• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities PDF
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / for fun / {spicing things up — adding a few *new* crafts to my life}

{spicing things up — adding a few *new* crafts to my life}

December 9, 2011 · 26 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, Gussy

Yay — it’s Friday, so that means just a few more hours until the weekend {when I can really get to crafting}! This last week has been filled with more crafts than normal ~ BUT I LOVE IT! On Saturday Mary and I went to Jo-Anns, Michaels and Target looking for fun supplies. And I have to add… I have quite the collection now! Since then I’ve been embroidering and finger knitting {click here for a DIY tutorial on how to finger knit} and soon I’ll be painting with stencils on mugs, making a winter wreath for our front door and making my own candles. Being in a craft store is basically like being inside a toy store —wink! Right Mary…? hah!

Sunday morning I made “eggs in a basket” aka: eggs in a frame, eggs in a nest, toads in a hole, one eyed egyptians {according to your comments on Instagram}. So yummy! Then later that afternoon Zack and I decorated our house for Christmas and now reds, silvers and greens fill the house. Loooove!

Then yesterday I attended a happy hour/craft night at a local gift shop with Anna at Paper Hat Co, located at 2309 W. 50th Street Minneapolis, MN 55410 — stop in if you’re a local! Greta taught us how to make the cutest paper Christmas trees out of an old magazine!!! I’m now obsessed and want to find a few smaller magazines to make a little tree collection for my office :]

That’s it for the new crafts in my life, whew!

PS. Working on new projects has totally lifted my spirits. This chilly winter weather {ummm, it was 5˚F last night} has kept me inside a bit more but cozy-ing up with pretty embroidery floss and a fun pattern has made all the difference. Yeow!

SHARE WITH US: What DIY crafts are you working on? What are your favorite tools, mediums or projects? What do you dream about making?
XO

life rearranged

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn


26 Comments
Filed Under: for fun, Gussy

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

« {Inspiration Workshop! — Holiday Decor}
{noteworthy links — crafts, indie biz, holiday DIY ebook} »

Comments

  1. Skye says

    December 9, 2011 at 6:31 am

    Those paper trees are so neat! :) I love that they are recycled!

    5˚F??? Um, no thanks! I will stick with my 30 degree winters down here in the south! :)

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:01 am

      HA HA — right?????

      however, the chilly weather means cute slippers, long john pajamas and lots of coffee + tea. perfection, right?! ;)

      Reply
  2. Kasey M. says

    December 9, 2011 at 7:40 am

    Love those trees! Think Greta would be willing to do a guest blog post with a tutorial for us ;)

    I’m up to my ears in holiday crafts right now (and loving it). I’m working on a giant crochet blanket for my boyfriend (1 square to go and some trim!), I’m making a “box of appreciation” (lots of cards saying all the things I appreciate about him in a box with little stocking stuffers) for my Dad, and an at home spa day (including homemade sugar body rub, face mask, and spa day food) for my Mom! I LOVE making handmade presents.

    Thanks for asking Maggie! I love seeing what other readers are doing by readint your comment section!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:02 am

      LOVE those gift ideas! do you have any links to share for inspiration? would love to see what you’re working on :]

      Reply
  3. Kaitlyn says

    December 9, 2011 at 7:59 am

    Totally agree with you that those stores are like toy shops! I love your blog, I have attempted to make my own bag that looks like the “diaper bag” in your shop- posting pics up tonight!

    Reply
  4. Sarah {the fontenot four} says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:08 am

    These are great crafts!! I’m doing a lot of knitting lately. I am making a lot of winter headbands for my etsy shop and some coffee sleeves and cowls for the shop and for fun!! And while I love winter, I agree with Skye…I’ll stick with my southern temps. 46F right now! :)

    Reply
  5. Jessica Kutok says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:20 am

    heyy
    im super new to the world of crafting
    but i just finished up a very small little cupcake cross stitch haha. it was a kiddie version.
    and then i made some wooden signs (hand painted/stenciled) for my grandparents for Christmas.
    I looove to paint I’ve discovered. :)
    -Jessica

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:03 am

      aww — i bet your cross stitch is adorable!!! send me a pic, would love to see! :]

      Reply
  6. Jodi says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:23 am

    I’ve got to check out the finger knit tutorial! :o)

    I’ve noticed my hometown has a lack of crafty goodness… may be I need to start something! ;o)

    I LOVE the paper trees!! And really love the garland on your tree! Beautiful!

    Reply
  7. Reggie says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:28 am

    I really like DIY’s…the trees are awesome. I liked ’em so much I pinned them on Pinterest.

    My DIY projects involve art software. I design for t-shirts, mugs,baby bibs, and such….adding new stuff every few days…so far :-)

    Reply
  8. Lauren says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:31 am

    Love the embroidery hoop! Those slippers look so comfy too!! :) We call them egg in a hole… I’ve never made them but my husband used to have them every day growing up. :)

    Reply
  9. Mary says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:46 am

    A wonderful, magical toy store that only adult women understand the gravitational pull of!
    You have so many cute projects – I can’t wait to see your finished products. :)

    Reply
  10. Jacky {The Sweetest Petunia} says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Oh my goodness, Joann’s is pretty much my favorite place….I can spend SO much time and $$ there. :)

    I love to sew, embroider, crochet, and just generally craft!

    Reply
  11. Ms. Megan says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:02 am

    What fun!!! and I agree, craft stores are indeed like toy stores!! :)

    Reply
  12. Ashley says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:10 am

    I made the book/ magazine trees the other night with my mom and LOVEd how they turned out- I used a copy of an old book, but I really like yours with the colored pages.
    Happy Friday!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:25 am

      i bet an old book made a GORGEOUS tree…!

      at the gift shop i was at last night they had cute pinwheels made from old books, tied together with red string! so sweet.

      Reply
  13. Megan says

    December 9, 2011 at 9:37 am

    I have 3 infinity scarves in progress and I made a nativity ornament. Still need a wreath so can’t wait to see yours!

    Reply
  14. Tara says

    December 9, 2011 at 10:37 am

    so many crafts I want to do… and now i think i have just added a couple more after this post! :) What is a girl to do!

    Reply
    • Gussy Sews says

      December 9, 2011 at 11:25 am

      …spend all weekend crafting, of course! ;D

      Reply
  15. Beth says

    December 9, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Us mammas got together last night and made bleach shirts! http://www.designmom.com/2010/12/diy-bleached-out-tees/ It was a blast!

    Reply
  16. Heather G. says

    December 9, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Ooh, I love eggs in a basket!!

    Reply
  17. Kasey M. says

    December 9, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Most of my holiday crafts are on my blog, http://buttonwoodcottage.blogspot.com. I won’t have photos of handmade presents until after the holiday :( because my family reads my blog :) But there are a few sneaky photos of Shane’s blanket on Instagram – [buttonwoodcottage].

    I took a few of my holiday gift ideas from this post over on Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2011/11/2011-gift-guides-skip-the-stores-use-your-hands.html. That’s how I found the recipe for the sugar body scrub.

    Reply
  18. angela king says

    December 9, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    found you through instagram. love your holiday decorations. those trees are tdf cute. :)

    Reply
  19. Katie says

    December 9, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    I have recently gotten into jewelry making…although I really really really want to get into crochet! :)

    Reply
  20. Sarah-Anne says

    December 10, 2011 at 11:21 am

    love it!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. {on sewing a pretty curtain :: turning a dream into an accomplished goal} says:
    December 14, 2011 at 8:25 am

    […] couple Saturday’s ago I came home after an amazing day spent at craft stores and decided to finally do something about the curtain-less closet in my office. After spending […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
.
.
.
.
.
#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.