Sparkling Gummi Bear Gelatin

January 1, 2013 by mymateriallife

This festive treat was inspired by the book, Hello, Jell-O!, a Christmas gift I received from Samantha.  I made the gelatin for the kids at last night’s gathering at the home of our friends Camille and Homero.  Needless to say, it was a hit. It’s based on the recipe for Sparkling Champagne and Strawberries in the book.  You’ll find the recipe here.  The two changes I made were to swap a Trader Joe’s sparkling white grape juice for the sparkling […]

Categories: Celebrations, Christmas, Sweets • Tags: haribo gummi bears, hello jell-o!, meringue, mexican wedding cookies, plastic champagne glasses, sparkling gelatin

Christmas Angels

December 25, 2012 by mymateriallife

Wings transform the girls to angels . . . or faeries?  Merry Christmas!

Categories: Christmas • Tags: angels, christmas angels, display, faeries, merry christmas, wings

An Arne & Carlos Christmas Ball

December 23, 2012 by mymateriallife

     Last year I found this book in the library called 55 Christmas Balls To Knit by two guys named Arne and Carlos.  I thought, “Is this a joke?”  Whenever I hear the term “Christmas balls” I can’t help but think of that old Saturday Night Live skit with Alec Baldwin.  But this is no joke.  Arne & Carlos are knitwear designers who live in the mountains of Norway (see their home and story here) and they are serious […]

Categories: Christmas, Knitting • Tags: arne and carlos, diy, home, knit christmas ornament, knitting, style, winter

Nutcracker Place Card Holders

December 22, 2012 by mymateriallife

These are inexpensive nutcracker ornaments from Michael’s that I turned into a set of place card holders with those miniature wooden clothespins that you can find at craft stores.  Such a snap to make; wouldn’t a set of these make a fun gift?  Crate & Barrel had some nutcrackers in white and silver and gold that were a little more expensive, but they’d make a beautiful set too.  I might see if they still have some of those at the […]

Categories: Celebrations, Christmas, Miniatures, Other Textiles • Tags: diy, glass mugs, home, ikea, marimekko, nutcracker ornaments, sugar swizzle sticks, wooden clothespins

Simple Techniques for Custom Christmas Cards

December 12, 2012 by mymateriallife

This is a gallery of favorite cards I’ve made over the years.  Once I started making my own it seemed like something I should keep doing, so for better or for worse I’m still at it.  The photo collage below is the first photo card I’ve made.  I typically prefer a card with some Christmas magic – the kind that is usually provided by a judicious use of glitter.  But 2011 was a festive year, so I thought the images […]

Categories: Christmas, Paper • Tags: card design, custom christmas cards, diy

Warning: Snow Globes Can Cause Fire!

December 7, 2012 by mymateriallife

Dear Reader, Have you ever been in just the right place at just right the time to allow you to avert disaster?  This just happened to me, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am.  I haven’t been home much this week and in addition to that, the weather has been mostly rainy or overcast, but today I had some time to spend at home and even though the sun is shining and it is a beautiful day, I […]

Categories: Christmas, Miniatures • Tags: fire safety, snow globes

Three Fun Finds

November 3, 2012 by mymateriallife

I can’t say I’m ready for the eggnog lattes that are already being sold in the coffee shops now that Halloween has come and gone, but this is a fun time to scout for new and interesting holiday items to use yourself or give as gifts.  I just found the Christmas tree fabric at IKEA the other day.  It’s fantastic, isn’t it?  That’s two yards draped over an Ektorp sofa.  I was just looking for a space in my house […]

Categories: Christmas, Miniatures, Other Textiles, Reading Material • Tags: anthropologie, gamago, ikea's textiles, maira kalman, margareta fabric, snowglobe salt & pepper, target, the elements of style

Beaded Pumpkins

December 22, 2011 by mymateriallife

Why bead a pumpkin?  Well – why not?!  And if not at Christmas time, when? These are impractical, a little magical, and very sparkly.  That makes them just right for these shortest days of the year if you ask me. And these are not only beaded, but gilded and silvered too.  They were inspired by an Anthropologie store display that I saw in October.  They used larger white pumpkins with actual silver and gold metal applied to one section of […]

Categories: Christmas, Other Holidays • Tags: beaded pumpkins

Souvenir Shop Trinket Cases

December 17, 2011 by mymateriallife

You could use plain white boxes for little gifts of charms, earrings, etc., but cases like these are so much more fun. I picked up a bag full of the tiger clam cases years ago.  They are referred to as shell coin purses if you want to search for them online; I found the lowest price here.  I think I bought mine at The Shell Shop in Morro Bay.  The little zipper case that I’m going to use for the […]

Categories: Christmas, Kid Stuff, Other Textiles, Sewing • Tags: silk-lined seashell cases