The Artful Parent

The Artful Parent Best of 2012

Before we say goodbye to 2012, I thought it would be interesting to take a quick look at the most popular posts from the past year. So without further ado, here are the top 20 posts from 2012 based on number of readers (you can click on the thumbnails to go directly to the posts themselves)...

Movie Night from the Tent (& A request for children's movie recommendations)

This was our evening a couple nights ago. A family movie night watching My Neighbor Totoro (one of our favorites!) from the camping tent set up in the living room. It was the perfect combination of cozy and novel and a good way to spend a holiday evening together.

Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours

Make a Wintery Window with Paper Doilies

Do you have transparent contact paper? Some paper doilies (perhaps left over from some other craft project)? That's all you need to transform one of your windows into a festive and wintery stained glass in a matter of minutes.

And if you don't have contact paper and doilies, then quick!, run out to the store before it closes for Christmas. This is an easy project to work on some quiet afternoon over vacation.

Note to Self & Fave Reader E-mail of the Year

Photo: Pretzel wreaths made with the kids (which I thought was rather brilliant until I realized they just looked like bagels with odd lumps).

Note to self: If, during the biggest clean-out your house has ever seen, you decide to unplug and untangle ALL of the computer, printer, and internet cables, realize that you will not likely be able to put them all back in the correct jacks and that this just might be a bit of an issue for a blogger. Ahem. 

(Thank goodness for husbands who have skills I lack. Such as computer cord identification and location skills.)

Okay, on to what is very possibly my favorite reader e-mail received this year... I had to share!! (She gave me permission.) It totally made my week!

Chocolate-Pretzel Christmas Trees :: A Holiday Treat Kids Can Make

Chocolate and pretzels are a traditional combination for a good reason. The smooth, rich chocolate is perfectly balanced by the saltiness and crunch of the pretzels. We've paired the two before by dipping pretzels in chocolate. This time, we combined them into a fun and easy Christmas tree treat.

Christmas Gift Suggestions

Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. -Oren Arnold

Just a reminder (to myself as much as to anyone else who could use this message) during this time of holiday gift guide after holiday gift guide, that the best gifts are those that come from your heart rather than those that come from the store.  

Glitter Stars :: A Simple Christmas Craft

Maia and I made these little hanging glitter stars last week, inspired by the large lighted stars we've fallen in love with. While the larger ones were made from yard sticks, these were made from little popsicle sticks. Plus generous amounts of glitter, of course, to sparkle in the glow of the Christmas lights. 

They were easy to make and use materials that you probably already have around the house: craft sticks, glue, paint, and glitter. Here's how we did it:

DIY Lighted Wooden Stars :: Trying Out a Pinterest Idea

I came across an idea via Pinterest last week that I had to try out right away —huge wooden stars made from 69 cent yardsticks and wrapped in Christmas lights. Thanks to Crystal from Little Bit Funky for the idea and the easy instructions. I mentioned the wood stars in my newsletter last week and then immediately hopped in the car to go buy some yardsticks.

We've since made FOUR, each painted different colors by the kids!. We can't stop making them. They are the perfect combination of spectacular, cheap, easy, and fun.

A Pay What You Can Sale on The Artful Winter eBook!

 

NOTE: The pay-what-you-can sale is now over.

Hello my friends!

Some of you have been asking if I would be having a pay-what-you-can sale for The Artful Winter and the answer is YES! I decided that sooner rather than later might be nice so that you'll have plenty of time to use the holiday ideas and recipes in the book.

Sooo.... This week, my winter crafts ebook is available on a "Pay What You Can" basis!