Archive for Molly
November 16, 2009
· Filed under Crafty!, Family Fun, Kids, Kids Crafts, Molly · Tagged easy kid crafts, family activities, lunch bag crafts, rainy day crafts
A couple of weeks ago, Rosa came home with this sweet little house she made at school (the middle house pictured above), and I promised her I’d feature it here on Charlotte’s Fancy. I’d already lined up the two weeks of holiday gift guides, so she’s been waiting patiently for awhile now.
Rosa, today is the day!
This is a very easy, quick and fun craft that kids can do, with lots of opportunity for fun embellishments, depending on what supplies you have lying around the house. Here’s what you need:
SUPPLIES
- Lunch bags (brown, white or whatever color you’d like)
- A few sheets of newspaper
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Glue
- Stapler
- Optional: tissue paper, scrapbook paper, felt, etc.
Step 1. Cut out the roof and a strip of paper for the chimney.
I took a piece of scrapbook paper, cut it to about 8″ x 12″, folded it in half and cut it like a trapezoid (make sure the fold at the top is the shorter of the two parallel sides). Set aside the roof and chimney for now – you’ll attach those at the end.
Step 2. Decorate your house.
The paper bag is going to stand, so you can draw the door (or a person standing at the door, as I did) and windows right at the bottom of the bag. Draw a 2nd story of windows about half way up the bag. Make sure not to draw windows too high up on the bag, or the roof will cover them up. I used sharpies to draw on the bag.
Step 3. Add a door and shutters and any other decorations.
Rosa’s classes used that corrugated bulletin board decorative border. I didn’t have any of that lying around, so I used felt (glued it on). I used regular construction paper for the door and glued it on. Rosa’s class also used tissue paper to make grass. I didn’t have any green tissue paper, so I used construction paper for that too.
Step 4. Take some pieces of newspaper, crumple them up and stuff them inside the bag, then staple your roof and chimney on (no need to fold over the top of the bag – just staple it shut).
Elena decided she wanted to get in on the action too. Here’s a close up of her house:
Wouldn’t you love to live in this sweet little village? I bet all the little people who live here are happy and nice to each other.
November 13, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Molly · Tagged buying handmade, handmade gifts, holiday gift guide, holiday gift ideas, support independent artists
A few heartfelt words from little ol’ me:
As you’re thinking about what to get for the people on your holiday gift lists, please consider buying handmade as much as possible, either from the shops featured here on Charlotte’s Fancy, or other independent artists and their handmade gifts. They deserve our support for the hard work, care and warmth they put into their businesses and the pretty things they make for us.
I’ve never met so many nice people as all of the shop owners on Etsy – many of whom I follow on Twitter too. I’ve already bought a few things myself and have gotten so much joy from chatting with the owners* and telling them how much I like and appreciate their work and creativity. Invariably they wrap the packages beautifully, include extra goodies, and always a very kind handwritten note of thanks.
Each package is like receiving a gift, even if it’s not for yourself. What could be better than that?
*Jacqui of Mee a Bee, Jen of Sophie & Lili, Jessica of Miniature Rhino, Sol Linero, and Lindsey of b. children’s wear ♥
♥ ♥ ♥
Oh—and if you have liked the gift guides and generally what you see here on Charlotte’s Fancy, I’d love it if you shared this blog with others and left me a comment every now and then. It always makes my day to hear from you. (Really.)
Photo: Gingerbread Hearts by Made With Love by Hannah
November 13, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Molly, Recipes & Food · Tagged edible gifts, handmade gifts, holiday gift ideas
What to do when you have people on your list who either have it all, mumble that they don’t want anything, or would prefer not to have more “things” to add to their homes? Give them some gourmet food, of course! Everyone has to eat, right?
I like the idea of giving gifts that someone can “use up” – and Etsy has a lot of edible gift choices:
Caramel with Nougat Pinwheels, ½ lb. ($10) by Vintage Confections
Custom Spice Mix (Small) ($17) by Purpose Design
9 French Macarons ($14) by Lemonade Stand
Blueberry Lime Jam ($6) by JustbHandmade
Original Teton Hot Chocolate, ½ lb. ($14) by the Teton Cocoa Company
Pure Raw Honey ($6/ 12 oz.) by Green Leaf Apiary
3 Tea Tin Gift Set ($12) by ruaTEA
Hazelnut Chocolate Whisky Cookies ($9 per ½ dozen) by Whimsy and Spice
16 Apricot Ginger Scones ($22) by the Kitchen Witch
Organic Popcorn ($2.80 per 500 g.) by The Organic Home
Creamy Yogurt and Boursin Dip Spice Blend and Recipes ($4.50) by epicerie
Fair Trade and Organically Grown Papua New Guinea Coffee ($13 per lb.) by The Roaster
So there you have it! Two weeks of holiday gift and card ideas. Did you buy anything from our guides? Get inspiration? We hope so.
Monday, we’ll be back to our regular schedule, with a craft waiting for you. Have a good weekend!
November 11, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Molly, Pretty Things · Tagged handmade gifts, holiday gift guide, holiday gift ideas, stocking stuffers
Stocking Stuffer Rules According to Molly:
1. This one is the most important rule: Stocking stuffers don’t actually have to fit into the stockings to qualify as stocking stuffers.* I will never forget the year my mom Santa put a stack of coloring books (a STACK!) and a big box of crayons with them next to my stocking. Pure joy.
*Santa didn’t hang the stockings back up on the fireplace, which may be different from your house; at my house he scattered them around the room, so that he could surround them with little piles of presents that didn’t fit in the stockings.
2. Sometimes stocking stuffers cost as much as gifts under the tree, but that’s ok – it’s what makes stockings extra special.
3. While I understand that oranges used to be a treat in the old timey days, no kid of mine is getting an orange in her stocking.
4. Stockings should never be an afterthought. When I was a kid, stockings were actually better than the presents under the tree.
OK? OK. Glad we’ve got that cleared up.
So I’ve got a whole bunch of picks here and again tomorrow – many of them are shops I featured last week, many are new, not all are Etsy. I hope you love these picks as much as I do.
Bicycle Wood Business Card Holder ($25) by HARE and DRUM
Honey Sugar Scrub, 20 oz. ($25) by One Honey
Purse/Pouch/Pencil Case ($23) by Helen Rawlinson
House Tea Towel ($14) by PataPri
Elephant Parade Print ($20) by matiekiller
Acorns Roasting on an Open Fire Print ($20) by Lisa DeJohn
Boston Terrier Stamp ($5) by nikoart
I Like Pretty Things Pencils, set of 3 ($4.95) by Olive Manna
iPod or iPhone Case ($19) by byrd and belle
Octopus Pocket Mirror ($7) by SparklePaw
Wooden Picture Frame Brooch ($15 each) by enna
Love Letter Shirt ($18) by b children’s wear
Red Striped Ornament ($35) by Fern Animals/Ashley Anna Brown
Ceramic Vintage Style Owl Desk Planter ($24) by fruitflypie
Set of 3 Cards ($8.50) by Dwell Deep
Bird Tea Towels, set of 3 ($30) by Anna Joyce
Snow Bird Ceramic Magnets ($2.50) by Sweet Tidings
Box of Felt Tarts ($13) by ikatbag
Tomorrow: even more stocking stuffer goodness!
November 10, 2009
· Filed under Holidays, Molly, Stationery & Paper Goods · Tagged Dee and LaLa, Egg Press, Hello Lucky, holiday greeting cards, La Familia Green, letterpress cards, Linda and Harriet, Snow and Graham
I’m kind of a nut about my Christmas cards. And by “nut” I mean “unable to commit to just one design.” For the past several years, I’ve sent out Hello! Lucky or Snow & Graham (or a combination of both) cards for Christmas. This year is no exception: I have 4 or 5 designs from Hello! Lucky, 3 designs by Snow & Graham and one design from Egg Press (= about 100 cards).
I know. You don’t have to tell me how absurd it is.
So perhaps it won’t surprise you to see that I couldn’t keep today’s Holiday Card round-up to just a handful of designs either.
Home for the Holidays, Festive Deer and Bird, Fishing Penguin, and Warm Things
Sets of 6 letterpress cards ($14) by Hello! Lucky
Stripes, Doves, City, and Birch Trees
Sets of 10 offset cards ($15) by Snow & Graham (excellent selection at Red Stamp)
Holiday Bear and Mistletoe Wreath Custom Cards by Paper Culture
Magical Forest (Set of 8 for $15.95) and Seasons Greeters (Set of 8 for $17.95) by Peagreen at MoMA
Warmest Wishes and Trees at Night
Sets of 6 letterpress cards ($18) by Linda & Harriet
Bingo and Holiday Sign
Sets of 6, $13.50 by A. Favorite (available at Greer Chicago)
Xmas Giraffes, Fireplace, Snow Fawn, Drummer Boys
$5.95 per card, some designs available in sets of 6 by Dee & LaLa
Luchador con el regalo and Sweater Wishes
Sets of 6 for $15 by La Familia Green
Sapling Holiday, joy!, Artic Winter Animals, Sets of 6 letterpress cards ($17)
Giraffe Merry, Set of 6 letterpress cards ($16) by Egg Press
I am crazy about Dee & LaLa’s “Fireplace” card – I think it would look beautiful in a little frame, don’t you?
Tomorrow: Part 1 of our Stocking Stuffer Guides. Something for everyone!
November 9, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Holidays, Molly, Stationery & Paper Goods · Tagged Etsy, Etsy greeting cards, handmade cards, holiday greeting cards, letterpress cards
Hellooooo Monday!
Today and tomorrow we’re taking a short break from the gift guides to bring you some holiday card ideas. Today’s edition features cards you can find on Etsy – some are single cards, most are sets. Take a look:
Candy Cane 4 pack ($15) by Darling Clementine
Letterpress Gone Fishing Holiday Cards, set of 8 ($15) by LookyLoo
Letterpress Damsel, set of 8 ($15) by LookyLoo
Hanukkah Menorah, set of 6 ($18) by Foxy & Winston
Snowflake Girl Letterpress and Reindeer Bear Letterpress, sets of 8 ($18) by Fugu Fugu Press
Red Bulb ($3.50) and Candy Cane ($3.50) by Gold Teeth
Woodland Panoramic Scene, set of 8 ($16) by Modern Printed Matter
Stitched Holiday Owls, set of 3 ($8) by Polka Dot Shop
Christmas Blossoms Greeting Card ($3.60) by tsktsk
Christmas Parade cards, set of 10 ($18) by Lila B
Custom designed Holiday cards by Ollie Graphic
Baubles, set of 4 ($6 – free shipping for two or more packs) by Mrs. Eliot Books
Ok, I have to confess: I adore that Snowflake girl card by Fugu Fugu Press. I also really love the Woodland Panoramic Scene by Modern Printed Matter and the Red Bulb card by Gold Teeth (a favorite shop at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn this summer).
What about you? Have any favorites?
November 6, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids, Molly · Tagged baby gift ideas, baby gifts, handmade gifts, handmade gifts for babies, holiday gift guide, holiday gift ideas
I need all of my friends to start having babies right away, because I have a lot of baby gift ideas…
Custom name plate ($60) by ninainvorm
Kanoe Baby Hammock ($290) by studioleroux
Chubby Night Owl ($21) by rabbitsmoon
Baby spoons ($22 each) by beehivekitchenware
Number Pipeline Print ($25) by ModernPop
Flock Organic Cotton Baby Quilt ($44.50) by Organic Quilt Company
Happy Cloud t-shirt ($12) by Jen Skelley
Lovely Lilac Snookie with personalization ($40) by Chickabiddybaby
Elf Hat ($16) by Mani-Mina
Eames Rocker Baby Name Birth Date Keepsake Print ($35) by prettymod
Modern Striped Candy Cane Stocking ($25) by MissMosh
Pear Tree Wall Art ($38) by Almost Sunday
Mix n Match Fruit Hats (Pick 3 for $60) by LA Originals
Wooli Felt Garden Diaper Caddy ($49) by BabiesBreath
Custom Silhouette Ornament ($30) by lepapierstudio
Deer in the Woods Growth Chart ($84) by Anna Joyce
Custom cloth blocks ($50 for set of 3, each additional block $10) by SmidgeboxDesign
♥ ♥ ♥
Is it Friday already? It’s been an especially fun week here – thanks to all of you for your kind comments, which we love reading.
The beauty of these gift guides is that if you really liked them, you can bookmark them for anytime you need gift ideas (and not just gifts for the holidays). Right? Karin and I both added a lot of new Etsy shops to our favorites.
Next week we’re starting the week off with some holiday card ideas, then we’ve got a whole lotta stocking stuffer fun, and finally, gifts for the person who has it all.
See you on Monday!
November 5, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids, Molly · Tagged gifts for children, gifts for little boys, handmade gifts, holiday gift guide, holiday gift ideas
Ok, you’re right. We had just as much fun picking out these gifts for little boys as we did for yesterday’s little girls’ gift guide.
Tell us if there’s anything you especially love in today’s guide – we’d love to know.
Aqua Cowboy Print ($30) by jenskelley
Bear Woodland Set ($80) by small town toys
The Beep Beep Car Stamp Set ($18) by The Small Object
Bernie the Monster t-shirt ($28.50) by NissaLisa
Blast Off Finger Puppet set ($35) by stay awake
Say Cheese Vintage Camera t-shirt ($20) by b children’s wear
Treasure Chest ($55) by Illustrious Rose
Organic Cotton Circle Wooden Toy Boat ($19) by willowbaus
Lemon Ball Vintage-style Baseball ($28) by Lemon Ball
Special Edition Winter Boy Doll ($104.25) by hasenpfeffer
Gertrude the Goldfish ($7 each) by MiChiMa
Tiny Friend print ($25) by KidsHaus
Zoo Blocks, set of 13 with drawstring bag ($30) by tiny giraffe
Little Hero Cape ($42) by Discovery Denim
Of course, pretty much all of these gifts work for little girls too.
Tomorrow: We’re going a little crazy with the Gifts for Babies guide. We can’t help ourselves.
November 4, 2009
· Filed under Etsy Finds, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids, Molly · Tagged gifts for little girls, handmade gifts, holiday gift guide
Karin and I have three girls between us. No boys. We’re all girlie, all the time, so we especially loved picking out today’s gift guide.
How can you resist any one of these items? That’s right, you can’t.
Forest Friends Satchel ($30) by Mee a Bee
Custom Kid Portrait on Canvas ($165) by LittlePinkHouse
Chickadee shirt ($22) by 1girl1boy
“Hannah” notecards set of 12 ($12) by Peony Paperie
Apple Maryjane Flats ($20) by Utopiapedia
Hayride Ruffle Cape in Tweed ($60) by red possum
Caterpillar and assorted hair clips ($5) by Sun Drop Clips
Nahla Bear with Coloring Book Set ($57) by all things small
Forest Critters Reusable Wall Stickers ($74.50) by Mae
Felted Flower Fairy ($30) by FairyFolk
Mary Had a Little Unicorn, 8 x 8 print ($20) by Helen Dardik
Nest. Sweet Nest, wool bird in a cotton nest ($25) by Sugar Elf
The Sasha Dress ($22) by Mani-Mina
Bunny and Radish, 8.5 x 11″ print ($20) by yumiyumi
Which is your favorite? I’ll confess: I bought one thing (so far!) in today’s gift guide. I can’t tell you which – but it’s more fun to guess anyway. (Ok, if you ask me on Twitter, I’ll tell you!)
Tomorrow: rats and snails and puppy dog tails.
