DIY: SALT DOUGH GIFT TAGS

Let me confess that I started to make my gift tags before I started shopping for gifts for the holidays. For a detail oriented, crafty girl, it's just too much fun not to spend time problem solving the wrapping! I first saw these salt dough gift tags on my friend Kristin's blog and just had to make some for myself. I'm also sharing these on the Ampersand blog today to head on over there for the recipe and full tutorial.

DIY: THREAD & PEARL BANGLE

You know the company, Kollabora I mentioned last week (p.s. you have until wednesday to enter the giveaway!)? They generously sent over a kit for me to experiment with and I am thrilled to tell you about it! I received everything I needed to make the Thread & Pearl Bangle Bracelet. This project took me about 20 minutes to create and I promise, it's easy peasy!

Materials
- one plastic bangle bracelet (about 10mm wide)
-2 skeins of embroidery floss (2 different colors shown)
-10" of pearl trim
-scissors
-tacky glue (or super glue)

Step 1: Begin with your base color of embroidery floss, and wrap the entire bracelet, covering it fully. Glue the ends when finished.

Step 2: Use a small dot of glue and adhere the pearl trim onto the outside of the wrapped bracelet.

Step 3: Lastly, take the second color of embroidery floss and wrap it around the bracelet, in between the pearls as shown. When you've wrapped around the entire bracelet, trim the embroidery floss and secure with glue.

That's it! See? Easy. I'm looking forward to making more bracelets in all different colors. 

What colors would you have chosen?

GIVEAWAY FROM KOLLABORA (CLOSED)

Have you all heard of Kollabora? In short it's an online community that brings crafters together to share and inspire one another to make things. From sewing to knitting to jewelry, the project ideas found on Kollabora are endless. The neat thing about this site is that while the it's full of great ideas for projects and tutorials, it's also a marketplace to purchase items to get you on your way to making things! Haven't we all said "I can make that!" a billion times and then never followed through? Well, Kollabora helps us all become do-ers by fostering a real community and inspires their users to to teach and share with one another. As noted on their website they say "We believe that we are what we make, and that people should have a creative alternative to just buying products." That's definitely a statement I can support!

photo used with permission from Kollabora

Aren't those scarves gorgeous? They are easy to make as well if you can you believe it. All it takes is one U sized bamboo crochet hook, about 45 yards of alpaca blend yarn and the basic ability to braid. Kollabora sells a kit ($99) with all of the necessary items to make a scarf so there's no day long search gathering up supplies. You can purchase the kit right here and get started in no time!

photo used with permission from Kollabora

For one lucky reader, the lovely ladies at Kollabora have agreed to give away a kit for the Braided, No Crochet Scarf or the monetary value ($99). If you live in a warm climate and don't need a scarf, not to worry! Kollabora has tons of projects that will fit your needs. To be entered into this drawing all you have to do is visit Kollabora and leave a comment below telling me which project you're most excited about. Be sure to visit all three categories (knitting, jewelry and sewing). Good luck!

Contest ends next Wednesday, December 5th at midnight EST and the winner will be announced soon!

A SUBTLE REVELRY MAGAZINE

It's quite the exciting week here on A Girl Who Makes. Today I'm sharing yet another holiday DIY project. Tis the season, right? Victoria of A Subtle Revelry graciously invited me to contribute to her latest magazine and you won't want to miss this. Victoria has worked tirelessly on this issue and I can't wait to share it with you all. It's full of inspiration to make your holidays merry. Check it out here!

For more DIY projects from Victoria and other ideas on celebrating the every day, visit her blog.