Out With The Old, In With The New

December 29, 2011

I swore I wasn't going to do this.  But after reading everyone's Best of/Favorites List of 2011, I said what the heck. So I'll be sharing a few of my favorite projects from  2011, along with the top three most popular posts for the year.  I do hope you get to check them out if you haven't seen them already.

Here are the three most popular posts. 





And here are some of my favorite projects of 2011.  
(Ya better strap in, I couldn't decide!)














It saddens me that I've shared so little of my vintage jewelry designs this past year.  I guess the home decor/DIY bug got the best of me.  I do want to keep up the thrifting, repurposing, painting, etc., but I also want to get my jewelry design mojo back again!  I will say that what once was Charm Bracelet Diva really did become Charm Bracelet Diva {@ Home}.  And that's OK.  As a matter of fact, don't be surprised if there's a (minor) blog name change in the works for the new year!  And maybe even a blog format change.  (No, not Wordpress!  Just a more professional look.)  Regardless of what's in store, I hope you'll all follow along and continue to inspire me with your comments, friendship, talent and kindness.

It's been a  great year, friends.  Here's to an even better 2012.

Happy New Year!

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:
  

REJOICE

December 23, 2011

And the angel said unto them, fear not: I bring you good news of great joy, which shall be to all mankind. For unto you is born this day in the city of Bethlehem a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Luke 11, 10-11.
(Taken from The Bible in Pictures, c. 1904)



Christmas Blessings
2011

xoxo

Handmade Super Easy Lemon Sugar Scrub

December 20, 2011


Okay, so I've given you a hint or two about some homemade Christmas gifts I was working on (with the kids) to send to family and friends.  I'm finally getting around to sharing the details of one of them.  With Christmas rapidly approaching (and just coming off an awful 24-hour bug, on the heels of my son's 36-hour bug) I'll be somewhat sparse with the details, but feel free to e-mail me with any questions.

I got my inspiration from an old post by Under the Table and Dreaming (May 3, 2010 post). 

I changed it up a bit, but it's essentially the same.

Ingredients

2 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 oz. bottle scented essential oil (I used Lemon Verbena)
Half-pint Ball jars (or any jars of your choosing)

This recipe ended up filling 6 half-pint jars.  You can use more sugar and olive oil for more jars, mixing as you need to.  Also, feel free to add more olive oil if the mixture seems too, well, scrubby. 

Just mix the sugar and the olive oil, adding about 2/3 of the bottle of  insert whatever scent you use here Lemon Verbena oil.  You really want it to smell good!  Lemon is one of my all-time favorite bath product fragrances.  Here it is mid-mix.

It'll look better in the jars, promise!

I used these darling jars.

And you want to include some type of spoon or scoop.  Here's what I used.


Can you guess where they're from?  Dollar Tree to the rescue once again.


The spoons came with these cute ice cream serving bowls.  Three bowl/spoon sets for $1.00.  Mr. CBD drilled some holes in the spoon handles and I tied them around  the outside of the package.

And here they are wrapped for giving.  I rubber stamped "Lemon Hand Scrub" on premade tags.




I got the Merry Christmas label download  from eighteen25. (If they look familiar it's because I used the exact same ones for my homemade snow globe soaps last Christmas!) First I printed, then cut them out and glued them onto cardstock.  And for a little glitz I brushed them with Mod Podge and a sprinkling of glitter.  

And today they went out in the mail.  I just love getting packages at Christmas, don't you?

xoxo

I'll be linking up here:

Sneak Peek and a Giveaway Winner

December 17, 2011

Today I thought I'd share with you a sneak peek at something I've been working on as a Christmas gift for friends and family.


I'll leave it up to your imagination.  What do YOU think it is?  I'd have to say that this one is truly one of my favorites.  We've been working on a few things I'll be sharing with you over the next couple of days.

But right now I'd like to announce the winner of my 500 Follower Holiday Giveaway.  Before I do, I just want to thank you all for your support and very kind comments.  I'm glad you all liked the goodies so much and I wish you could all be winners!  That said, Random Number Generator picked No. 49,  Jenn from How to Make Hair Bows!   Congrats, Jenn!  I'll be mailing them straight out to you once I receive your address.

Faux grainsack pillow


Vintage paper handmade ornament

Again, I wish you ALL could have won.  Thanks for entering and I hope you're all having a GREAT
I -can't-believe-it's-almost-Christmas weekend!  (Only 8 days away, people!)

xoxo

 

Christmas Caramel Waffle Sandwich Cookies - For Eating and For Giving

December 15, 2011


This has become one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes.  I use vanilla flavored pizelle cookies and they are marvelously mouth-watering!  Just thought I'd share.  
   
Ingredients

4 tablespoon(s) unsalted butter
1/2 cup(s) packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/3 cup(s) heavy cream
24 oval Belgian butter waffle cookies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Directions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a boil and stir in the cream. Boil for 2 minutes (the mixture will bubble up into an even light-colored foam).

Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Refrigerate until it's slightly cooled and spreadable, about 30 minutes.

Spread half of the cookies with 2 tsp each of the cooled caramel; sandwich with another cookie.

GIVE IT: Trace a cookie onto a piece of cardboard, cut out, wrap in foil and place at the bottom of a cellophane bag . Stack cookies on top; tie bag closed with a ribbon. To make a gift tag, cut a 2-in. circle from white paper and a 1 3⁄4-in. circle from red paper. Glue red circle over white, punch a hole, slide one end of the ribbon through the hole and knot.

Per cookie: 192 cal, 2 g pro, 24 g car, o g fiber, 10 g fat (6 sat fat), 36 mg chol, 52 mg sod

I'll be making mine over the next few days.  I can taste them already!

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway HERE
Time runs out tomorrow, Dec. 16th, at midnight.


Good luck!

 
xoxo

 
I'm linking up here:
 

We Interrupt This Broadcast With Breaking News

December 13, 2011


Sigh. 

That's me, breathing a sigh of relief.  Because I've decided to s-l-o-w down.  With the holidays rapidly approaching, I've decided to put my weekly Club G.W. party on the back burner while I put my energies into focusing more on my family and what this holy season really means.  

That's not to say that I don't have gifts to make and mail, and school parties to plan, and crafty Christmas projects I'd like to get my hands on and then blog about!  It just means that I'm not going to feel guilty if a day goes by and {gasp} it doesn't involve blogging.  Sometimes you've just got to let go.

Right now I'm working on a large custom order for vintage charm necklaces that are due in time for Christmas.  Once that's done I will rest a bit easier.  Then maybe the gift making and tree decorating and wrapping and baking and shopping will all fall into place.  Don't worry, I'll still be sharing some more Christmas ideas, just at my own pace.  And I'll be announcing the winner of my 500 Follower Holiday Giveaway this Saturday so if you haven't entered yet, there's still time!

          Go HERE to enter!  And good luck!

I hope you get a chance to s-l-o-w down soon, too.  Rejuvenate.  And we'll ALL hit the ground running in 2012!

xoxo

Easy DIY Retro Silver Garland Christmas Wreath and Giveaway!

December 11, 2011





If you read my recent DIY mercury glass tutorial, {here}, then you noticed that there was a very cool silver retro wreath in the background of that photo shoot.  I thought I'd share how easily {and cheaply} I put it together.  All in all I was quite pleased with how well it turned out.



All you need:

Bare wreath, any type (Goodwill $1.49)

Dollar Tree ball ornaments, any colors (6 for $1.00)

Dollar Tree one package silver garland (only comes in one size)
(I had to supplement this with a 15 foot silver garland from Target)

One sparkly Dollar Tree reindeer ornament (2 for $1.00, love them!)
and some wide Christmas ribbon (40% off coupon Jo-Ann's.) 

Oh yeah, and a glue gun!






I just wrapped the garland around the wreath, not even bothering to glue it down. Then I tucked the two ends into it as I wrapped it all around and around.  Strategically place your ornaments first to see how to best space them.  Then go to town with that glue gun.  The fuzziness of the garland hides any imperfections.  Finally, cut a piece of wide coordinating/matching ribbon and loop it over the top.  Hang in your favorite spot.  Stick the reindeer in it,  Done.  I'm loving how fluffy it is.



We're enjoying it.  Now if we could just get those trees (we have two) decorated!

And don't forget to enter my 500 Follower Holiday Giveaway here.

Giveaway ends Friday, December 16th.








 Good luck!

xoxo


I'll be linking up here:

Homemaker On a  Dime

500 Follower Holiday Giveaway is HERE!

December 7, 2011

I'm so excited to be sharing this special giveaway with you, dear readers!  I'm giving away two things that some lucky reader will {hopefully} receive just in time for Christmas!  It's a thank you for the gift of friendship that you've given me, not to mention your following, sharing, commenting, partying, supporting, the list goes on and on.  I sincerely thank you all.  So first off, I'd like to share a faux grainsack pillow I made especially for the giveaway.


Everyone loved the one I made a while back so I thought I'd make another one to share!  I can't get enough of them.  Just the right touch of vintage French to add to your decor.


In addition, this season I've fallen in love with vintage paper ornaments. So in keeping with the spirit of Christmas I thought I'd share one made by yours truly. I love the look on this kind old Santa's face, don't you?







**GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

There are M-A-N-Y ways to enter.  But be forewarned: Each entry needs a separate comment!  

1.  Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a follower and leave a comment telling me you've become one.  If you're already a follower just leave a separate comment telling me so.

3. Share the giveaway on your Facebook page.

4. Tweet about the giveaway. 

5. Like Charm Bracelet Diva on Facebook.

6.  Follow Charm Bracelet Diva on Twitter.

7. Put the giveaway button in your sidebar.

8. Blog about the giveaway.

Oh my gosh, 8 chances to win!  {Did I really say that?} Get busy people!

This giveaway is open until midnight December 16th to U.S. residents only.  Good luck!


**GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

xoxo


Club G.W. No. 23 and Features

December 5, 2011

It's that time again, time for your bestest pitter-patter finds and re-dos.  I'm sure you're all busy with Christmas craftin' and preparations {I know I am} but we all need a break.  So why don't you take a load off, grab a cuppa and visit these featured divas.  Then you can join in this week's party!

Joyful Thrifter @ Joyful Treasure Hunting
I'd be Joyful, too, if I scored this bin for $3.00.  Can you say Porch Sale?

Town and Country Gals @ Walnut & Vine
I LOVE this vintage tartan plaid tin.  Would fit right in with Christmas decor!

$3.00 must be the lucky number this week.  Great price, great re-do.  Go, Graphics Fairy! 

Ladies, grab yourselves a "Featured" button!


{I know, this button is HUGE!  Grab the right sized one from my top right side bar!}

All three features are newbies this week, so stop on over and say hi!

Time to party.

Party Rules

Please link back to your post and not to your blog's main URL.

Please mention the party somewhere in your post or place the party button on your sidebar.  That way others can find out where the party is and join in!

I'd love for you to become a follower so you don't miss the next party!

And be sure to visit the other party guests! 

Don't forget to Like me on Facebook and Follow me on Twitter.  

xoxo







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