The force will be strong with this one

My co-workers know me well. I am so looking forward to introducing my little jedi to a galaxy far far away!

Valentine's leather cable holders

My Christmas crafting has me on a bit of a leatherworking kick. For Valentine's Day I decided to make my peeps leather cable holders. They are perfect for wrangling iPhone power cords and earbuds. I don't know about you but I throw all my cables into my bag and they become a tangled mess. These tidy them up and are cute to boot.

I used some upcycled leather my mom thrifted for me to make the cable holders. Besides that, all I needed were snaps and the rivet setter tools. I cut each piece of leather to 2 inches by 4 and a quarter inches. I used a paper slicer for nice straight edges. The corners are rounded with a pair of scissors. Then I added the snaps with the rivet tool. To add personalization and the little heart for Valentine's Day, I branded the leather with my wood burning tool. One of my easiest gift projects and I think everyone like them. Cute AND useful!

Look what Aaron found in his Christmas stocking

This is the look you want to see on their face when you have kept the best gift ever a secret for months.

First flight. Aaron couldn't wait to try out his new drone.

It is surprisingly easy to fly. It's not jumpy like the little toy helicopters he has had in the past. While you fly it with the controller, you can see through the camera via an app on your iPhone. You can also use the app to move the camera up and down, take a photo or shoot video.

Drone selfie!

The view it captures is amazing.

First #djiphantom video!!! Can't wait to shoot more tomorrow!!! Love. Love. Love this thing!!!

A video posted by Aaron (@aaron_istic) on Dec 12, 2014 at 6:34pm PST

Handmade Christmas Gifts 2014

It's close enough to Christmas that I think I can show the handmade gifts for this year. My mom gave me a large piece of upcycled leather and we used it to make keychains for office mates, friends and family. Aaron cut the leather, dyed the inside, while I branded and riveted them together. I thought they were cute little gifts and was blown away by how much people loved them.

When my sister told me she wanted a Thankful Jar like I made and posted on my blog, I realized they might make nice gifts. I hope to see these full of good things for my friends and family by next year.

I made two custom gifts too. Our friend Charlie just got a Miata and we made him a diaorama featuring one. It's harder to find a toy Miata than you would think.

I also made my friend Liz a diorama featuring a black lab that looks like hers. It is also harder than you would think to find a small toy black lab! They both turned out really cute though.

Anchor

Partway through his graduation party, Aaron pulled me aside and gave me a little box. Inside was this anchor necklace! He said it was a thank you gift for supporting him the last two years while he worked on his MBA. I love it 'cause #1 the symbolism of being an anchor #2 I have a boatload (pardon the pun) of anchor shirts!

Birthday Car Suprise!

Aaron came home early from a business trip to travel to PA for my Grandmother's services. I thought he was out picking up dry cleaning but when I went out to the driveway I found this!

Get a car with a giant bow on it was on my bucket list. It might seem like this only happens in commercials... but it doesn't!

I love my new Chevy Spark! Sparky! Big thanks to Bob Johnson Cheverolet for helping Aaron get exactly the right color and all the features I could dream of! I'm so excited!

Manicure Jars

I wanted to make something special for my peeps for Valentine's Day. First I glass etched everyone's intitials onto glass jars. Then I filled each one with nail pollish and other manicure items. Manicure jars! Cute and handy!

Christmas Eve

Typical Christmas Eve for us. Big spaghetti dinner. Last minute wrapping, squirreled away in a bedroom.

Does this tree look familiar? We took down our Christmas tree and put it back up at my Grandma's with her ornaments. It's been a good little tree.

2013 Christmas Theme: Wood

When I spotted this wood grain wrapping paper at Marshalls, I knew I had my Christmas theme for 2013. I love a good theme. This year it is wood!

I found wood tags and wood deer cutouts at Michaels that I could burn people's names into for gift tags.

I think this is one of my favorite Christmas themes so far. Then again I say that every year.

Christmas gifts: Etched glass jars

A few months ago, Aaron got me a Martha Stewart glass etching kit. I finally got it out and etched a few jars. It's so easy and works so well! I decided to make my peeps glass jars with their names on them for Christmas gifts.

Even better than using the stencils was creating my own using my Cricut and vinyl adhesive.

Each jar got peppermint candy sticks and a cute lid with handle. Now I want to etch everything!!!

Dollop Book of Frosting.... and dogs.

Two good friends had birthdays this weekend and I wanted to get them something special. I have been shopping local for birthdays and this time I found a gift that is unique and "local". Heather Saffer who once owned the Penfield Dollop Cupcakes, and winner of Cupcake Wars, wrote a frosting cookbook "The Dollop Book of Frosting". It's packed full of creative, delicious looking recipes for frosting.

Heather has a super cute pup named Donald that she adopted from Rochester Animal Services. She posts adorable pictures of Donald on her Instagram feed and blog. Donald's Happy Tails story is even featured in the Verona Street Animal Society newsletter! It got me thinking. Pups and sweet tooth cookbooks go hand in hand (in my mind).

After I gave my friends, Nancy and Tina, each their cookbook, I asked them to take a picture of it with their pooches. Here is Ace and The Dollop Book of Frosting.

Ziva and the Dollop Book of Frosting.

Oscar, Hugo and the Dollop Book of Frosting.

I haven't even made a recipe from the book yet, and I am enamoured. I like to flip through the pages like a magazine, admire the photos, think about which recipes I will make and how I will enjoy the frosting.

With the holidays coming up "The Dollop Book of Frosting" would make a great gift. Especially paired with a cute spatula or whisk! I love gift themes!

Vintage sign making stamps

My mom had a big surprise for me when they came to visit. Seeing my newfound interest in letterpress, she brought me this really cool sign maker kit with letter stamps. So cool!

I need to clean it up a bit. That never seems to bode well for things I see on antique road show, but I can't help myself. I want to try to actually use this set!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! Oscar and Hugo went with a beer theme for Aaron's gift. They got him a beer periodic table and beer flight glasses. They know him well.

We are home for the weekend. Hugo loves running around my parents property. Country dog.

Greenhouse!

I was pretty excited to open my birthday gift from Aaron.

The critters were pretty excited too.

It's a greenhouse!

I can't wait to put it up and start growing veggies & flowers! I love it!

Nespresso Pixie!

I guess my heavy sighs and carefully place pamphlets paid off... Aaron got me a Nespresso Pixie for Christmas! It even came with an Aeroccino to make frothy milk.

Ahh it's soooo good!

Momiji doll

I have been meaning to post about the birthday gifties Tina gave me. A momiji doll and mug! I have been eyeballing these momiji dolls for ages. You can hide a little message inside the doll.

The cute mug was a bonus!

Klout Perk: Chloe + Isabel

A couple weeks ago I got a Klout perk for a discount on Chloe + Isabel jewelry. Typically I don't pay much attention to the perks that are just discounts but I decided to take a look at their online store.

Some things were pricey but there were also more reasonably priced items and with my discount in hand, I couldn't pass up this necklace. It's so simple but unique and goes with anything.

I like the necklace but what I really loved was the experience. The necklace came in a really cute canvas bag stamped with the adorable Chloe + Isabel birds logo. Tied to the necklace was an orange felt bird. Note that even the clasp on the necklace has a tiny metal bird attached. Such good attention to detail!

I have my favorite local shops for jewelry (FAHSYE!) but if I had to get a gift that would be shipped to a friend out of town on short notice the presentation chloe + isabel provide makes them a great alternative!

Chloe + Isabel - Facebook | Twitter |Pinterest | Website

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Envy

My much missed friend Kristen over in London sent the cutest birthday week package. Queen's Diamond Jubilee theme!

It looks like everyone is having so much fun overseas for the Jubilee! If you want to have your own party there is a free printable party pack download on Kodak Tips & Projects Exchange.

Cassette Tape Lamp

Check it out. Aprille made me this fab cassette tape lamp for Christmas.

That's right. Soak up the crafty upcycled awesomeness.

ljcfyi holiday gift guide: Plastic

Recently I discovered a little store in Rochester called Plastic. They carry the little designer plastic and vinyl toys that come in blind boxes so you don't know what you are getting. They are really popular with collectors... such as myself.

I was thrilled when Plastic moved into a store front in the South Wedge. All the better to feed my habit.

My favorites are the Dunny collection but I have been known to branch out.

If you have someone on your list that is a collector of cute things you should definitely stop by Plastic and check it out. They also have some interesting prints, clothes and other items.