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Happy Holiday Crafting + a GIVEAWAY!

by Danielle Jackson



Happy Holidays, Everyone! 2012 has been a GREAT year for Sourcebooks, and I just want to take a second and personally thank all of the Casablanca Authors—they are BIG reason why we had such an awesome year, and I know 2013 will be incredible. It is so much fun to work with a dynamic and diverse group of authors who all do an amazing job writing books that truly connect with readers. So, huzzah to all of them!

As you all might remember, earlier this year I wrote a blogall about crafting, which is a way that I relax. Well, from about October-December, crafting is something that I love to do for family and friends for the Christmas presents from me! I thought I’d share some of my most recent projects (and hope that my mom doesn’t remember to read my blog this month):

For my fellow Sourcebooks publicists, I found a really quick and adorable mason jar “snow globe”:


I found the tutorial at this great blog, Whipperberry: http://whipperberry.com/2011/12/anthro-inspired-snow-globes-tutorial.html.

I have found that guys are the HARDEST people to make homemade gifts for… last year, I decided to try to make homemade body scrub for the dudes in my life, and I’m pretty sure none of them used it (it smelled like mint, how could they not want to use it?). But this year, I decided to make cool prints on t-shirts using bleach and stencils… And remember—I’m from Chicago, so don’t mind my team spirit (the initials are for my dad)!



Another easy craft, but rather time consuming and tedious was a mixture of decorative balls using flat thumbtacks and yarn. I put them in a cute bowl, and it will match the recipient’s holiday décor.



This is possibly one of the easiest crafts I’ve ever done—coasters made out of bathroom/backsplash tiles, made seasonal with holiday scrapbooking paper. I bought 100 tiles for $11 last week—so I’ll be giving these out A LOT in 2013 :-)


I think what I love most about all of these crafts is that they are easily modifiable for anyone in your life, and don’t take too much effort… but look amazing!

What about all of you? Do any of you do some crafting during the holiday season for decorations or gifts? Just leave a comment about your favorite crafting activities and I’ll giveaway that very set of coasters you see above, along with a 2013 Jane Austen Companion to Life Calendar. US and Canada only, and please be sure to leave an address so I can reach you! Winner will be chosen TOMORROW morning, 12/21!

Happy Holidays to everyone, and a very prosperous New Year!
Danielle

Danielle Jackson is a senior publicist at Sourcebooks, and the lead publicist for the Sourcebooks Casablanca romance fiction imprint. She graduated cum laude with and English degree from Bradley University, and has been with Sourcebooks for 5 years. Danielle loves everything about books, and continues to learn as much as she can about the publishing industry. Danielle has been invited to speak about book PR and Marketing at many local and national conferences, including the Romance Writers of America National Conference, the RT Booklovers Convention and the Evanston Writers Workshop among others. An eclectic reader, Danielle reads everything from historical romance to literary fiction to biographies. You can follow her on Twitter @SourcebooksCasa for updates on Sourcebooks’ romance novels.

Comments

  1. How neat, Danielle! Well, you know I make teddy bears. But I also do lots of other kinds of crafts. I am currently working on embroidering a snowman quilt hanging. Not sure what they're called. But I hang them over things to give a more homespun Christmas look. This one will be for a gift next year. Guess I'll take a picture of the one I already have done for Saturday's post!

    It's fun to take a break from what we regularly do to get creative! :)

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  3. Hello Danielle, This is the first time I find a blog with someone who shares her craft passion. For my family and friends, I paint false stained glass and jewelly, I like making necklaces and earrings of my own creation. I enjoy it so much, specially during winter time. Thanks for this nice giveaway. I will surely follow your blog. Merry Christmas and Happy new year 2013.
    nlaverdure88@videotron.ca

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  4. Other than making contemporary quilts, I have absolutely no crafting skill, and am so jealous of those who do! Those T-shirts look AWESOME.

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  5. Thanks for the comments everyone!

    All of these crafts are INSANELY easy. That's kind of my crafting motto. If something appears to difficult, then I don't do it :)

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  6. I am so craft-challenged. I can't even do the toddler crafts at the Children's Museum. It's my dirty little secret. I need you to come and give me lessons (or just take Baby Galen to the museum and do the crafts with her...)

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  7. I want to try that snowglobe jar. It looks really fun to make. I like to make giant snowflakes and ornaments. I like to paint and add glitters and it makes me feel like a kid again.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. Thanks for sharing some fun craft ideas. I love to bead and make necklaces. The stiffer wire available in craft of hardware stores are also great to craft into loose wire globes with an opening on one side, the bottom lined with a bit of moss and then a Tillandsia - airplant nestled into the cavity. I have also seen flat containers used to grow sedum - can place a bit of soil and grow a few different sedum types and hens and chicks. The look is beautiful when the plants have covered all of the soil surface.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  9. I use to be extremely crafty. Instead of just watching TV in the evenings, I had to be doing something else too. I taught myself to crochet and made afghans one Christmas and another year I made dozens of ornaments. Some were needlepoint. I made homemade wreaths for years. Now that I spend so much time on the computer I'm afraid I hardly do any at all (shame on me lol).

    catslady5(at)aol.com

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  10. I love to craft! Me and my brother (he's 8) usually cut out snowflakes and hang them around the house. We make ornaments and draw pictures and really get into it :-)

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  11. Happy holidays! Nice crafts. I don't really craft.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. Our whole family is craft oriented...LOVE your post and these crafts. I've got to show the tiles to my daughter who is always looking for teacher gift ideas. She will love making those!

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  13. Thanks everyone! I loved reading about everyone's crafting adventures. And to those you who aren't so DIY-inclined, these crafts are very easy to start with!

    Our winner is Lil--I'll be emailing you shortly!

    Happy Holidays to EVERYONE!
    Danielle

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