12 Days of Home for the Holidays Welcomes Angela Daniels

The crazy, incredibly talented, most wonderful person there is in Angela Daniels.  Although Angela served as Lead Fiskateer, Crafting Ambassador for Fiskars, and this summer was on Craft Wars, I got to know Angela while we both were on Two Peas in a Bucket.  Back in the day of Spider Girl.  I have enjoyed watching Angela create a scrapbook page....make a Duct Tape dress...dye a dress orange...make fairy outfits for her and her daughter...and the things Angela can do is endless.  FYI:  I would love to live in her neighborhood because she does some of the coolest things for and with her neighbors.  Welcome Angela Daniels.

Christmas has always been magical for our family. The days leading up to Santa's arrival are exciting and filled with anticipation. Each year, I try and do something a little different for my kids to get them into the holiday spirit. Sometimes, they get to pull a little tag that has a family activity on it. The less planning and stress these little family activities call for, the better it is for me and the more the kids like it. In the past, we've had simple activities like:  "camp out in mama and papa's room," "eat by candlelight," and "drive around the neighborhood and admire everyone's outdoor decorations." 

Another great activity is getting the kids involved in making candies or crafty gifts for neighbors. They love the activity, I love the time spent together AND we have lovely little gifts all ready when we need last minute hostess gifts to holiday parties.

The past few years, I've gotten ambitious and spent days sorting big holiday Lego sets into 25 logical steps (see my YouTube tutorial here: Easy DIY Advent Calendar). Once I have everything sorted, they go into plain paper bags which I've stamped 1 through 25. I hang these, along with lights and garland, down our stairs so my kids have to search for the number of the day while they get a real visual sense of the dwindling bags, marking the count down to Christmas day. This gives them a little something to build each day along with a great holiday set that we can continue to build together and put out each holiday season. 

Whatever your holiday traditions are, I hope you remember that beautiful crafts can build beautiful memories if you make them with and for your family. And don't hesitate to try out new traditions while keeping the ones that are tried and true. You never know which ones will become the start of generations of holiday traditions. But don't get caught up in the perfection game.  I always try to remind myself that, while I'd love the perfect Martha Stewart Christmas, she has a creative staff and professional photographers to create hers. My kiddos feel so much more invested in crafts that they have made with me than the ones I've worked to perfect while they are doing something else.

Happy holidays, everyone. And a crafty New Year.

Oh and do think about hosting a "tacky Christmas sweater party." I love those. I won last year, thanks to a roll of tulle and a few dollar store ornaments!

Angela Daniels

The Guilty Crafter

   

I think this countdown "calendar" is an awesome idea.  It is especially great with young kids that don't  really need the "chocolate" countdown calendars.  Thanks Angela. 

Giveaway

What an incredible giveaway from Graphic 45, X-ACTO, Sizzix, and May Arts!  Leave a comment for Angela and I’ll put your name in the drawing. Leave a comment on each of the 12 day's posts to be entered for 12 opportunities to win this gorgeous prize package!  You can also go to X-ACTO's, Graphic 45's, Sizzix's, and May Art's Facebook page and “like,” leaving a comment you came from D’s Paper Studio and leave another comment on one of the blog posts letting me know to be entered again.  One blog reader's name will be drawn and announced on Monday, December 14th. On your Mark, Get Set, Go....!

Included in the Giveaway: 

Graphic 45:  Nutcracker Sweet 12x12 paper pad; both sets of coordinating stickers; Ornate Metal Keys; Ornate Metal Key Holes; Flower Staples, Envelope Tag Staples

May Arts:  (as pictured) Red and Green Center Strip 25 yards; Jute 400 yards; Mini-Pom Poms 30 yards; Velvet 50 yards; Cotton Strip 30 yards

X-ACTO: X-ACTO Designer Series 9’’ Fixed Blade; X-ACTO Designer Series Precision Scissors; X-ACTO Designer Series Corner Punch; X-ACTO Designer Series Gripster; X-ACTO Designer Series Shapes Templates; CraftBond Glue Spots; CraftBond Quick Dry Dual Tip Glue Pen; CraftBond All Purpose Glue Stick

Sizzix: The New Tim Holtz Texture Fades;  They include: 658269 Holly Pattern & Wreath Set;  658273 Brush Poinsettias & Winter Berries Set;  658270 Textured Poinsettia Pattern Set; and 658272 Holly Branch & Pine Branch Set

Have a Wonderfully Crafty Holiday!