My name is Miki and I'm a link-a-holic.

Yes, I collect links. Links to everything & anything that I love on the internet. My favorites, folders & desktop are filled with links. Most of them are links to crafts that I would love to do someday. I have enough cute craft links to last me a lifetime. There's just too many talented people out there who are willing to share their craftiness with others!

So I thought I would put some of these links I have collected to good use. I thought maybe our readers would like some links to easy, last-minutes holiday gift ideas. If your a crafter, then chances are pretty good you might have the supplies on hand for some of these. But if not, I did try to keep the list to supplies you could find locally.

Here's what you'll find in my list of crafty links:

1. Had to be quick & easy.
2. Needed minimal supplies that were (hopefully) easy to find.
3. Couldn't cost a fortune.
4. Anyone could do them!

I thought I would start off with some food gift links. Who doesn't love receiving yummy treats during the holidays? Some of these are perfect for doing with your kids too!

Homemade Toffee from French Knots

Check out the adorable packaging on this one! Homemade Peppermint Bark from Martha Stewart

Chocolate Dipped Candy Canes from Make and Takes

These are way too cute! Oreo Cookie Snowmen from According to Kelly

I made this one this past weekend & it really is yummy! Funky Monkey Bread from Mish Mash

Marshmallow Snowmen from Speckled Egg

Here are some crafty gifts to make that you could use your scrap supplies for.

Stamped Dish Towels from Design Sponge

Framed Paper from JCaroline

Marble Magnets by Not Martha

This one uses fabric, but you could easily use scrapbook paper too! Decorated Office Supplies from How About Orange

I don't know about you, but this would take me hours...HOURS to do myself. And that's assuming I could figure out what images I wanted before Christmas was even here. Totally worth the $5 price! Print and Give 2009 Mini Calender from Little Brown Pen

If you can sew, then you might want to check these out. These wouldn't be quick & easy for me, but in case you can sew in a jiffy, you might like these.

These first two are downloadable (is that even a word?) patterns I found. Super cute and well worth the pattern cost if you make a few.
Wristlet PDF Sewing Pattern by Jenna Lou Designs

City Tote PDF Sewing Pattern by keykalou

Ribbon Key Fob from JCaroline

I made some of these last year and you don't have to be an expert to sew them (I promise!). They are also a great way to use up fabric scraps. Raggedy Quilted Coasters

And for us slow-sewers or non-sewers, here are a few no-sew patterns I found.

This one is fabulous! Simple but Chic, no-sew scarf by Little Birdie Secret

No Sew Fleece Blanket & Pillow from Joanns

Tiny Pincushions from How About Orange

These final ones are just plain fun!

This one would be perfect for your kids to make & give to Grandparents, Teachers or anyone else! Doodled Notepad from Martha Stewart

Baby Onesie from Joanns

Easy Wine Glass Charms from Not Martha

I want to make these just to have sitting on my counter in their pretty jars! Homemade Bath Salts from Martha Stewart

Fabric Fridge Frame from How About Orange

Hopefully I didn't just waste your whole day surfing the net oohing & awwing over these great gift ideas. I seriously could go on & on with these links. But I am hoping that it will maybe solve a last minute gift idea or maybe help with that hard to buy for person on your list.

Enjoy this great list of links and don't forget to check out the list of tutorials we've done here (and there's been some really great ones!). You can find it right there down the right side of our blog.

A big THANK YOU to all the crafters out there who share their talents with us over the internet each day!!

Celebration of colour (color) : crackle paints

Hello everyone. It's Fiona here and I'm working with one of my favourite (favorite) mediums at the moment, Ranger distress crackle paints.

The little project I'm creating is a set of magnets.



My magnets usually find a place on our fridge, helping to hold precious photos or notes. We display lots of things on our fridge, for us our fridge is a photo album on display. Visitors to our house will stand in front of our fridge for ages looking through the photos.

So onto the project. Here's what you'll need for the first steps of this project: chipboard shapes (Maya Road), acrylic paint (Plaid Folk Art) and distress crackle paint (Ranger).



Paint the chipboard shapes with acrylic paint:



Leave these to dry throughly:



Choose coordinating colours (colors) of the distress crackle paint:



Paint on the distress crackle paint:



Warning: this paint is thick. You should try to apply it once and not re-work the surface. You can get a large crackle effect by using a thick layer. For a finer crackle effect, try to use a thinner layer of the crackle paint.



Leave to dry throughly again. You'll see the undercoat of acylic paint showing through the cracks of the top layer.



Sometimes I like to add a little gloss to the painted chipboard shapes. Traditional glosses can trap small air bubbles in the cracks of the paint, so I use clear embossing powder to give a glossy surface. You'll need your stamping supplies for this stage, VersaMark ink pad, clear embossing powder and your heat gun.



Apply the VersaMark ink to the shapes:



Sprinkle shapes with the embossing powder:



Use the heat gun to melt the embossing powder, giving the glossy finish to your chipboard shapes:



Add embellishments if needed to the chipboard shapes. I added buttons to the flower centres:



Use a hot glue gun to assemble the chipboard magents together:



Add magnets to the backs of the finished shapes:



Here they are again, all finished.



....and our fridge, well, here's a photo of the top half, lots of memories on display:



I'd love to see any little magnet projects that you make, leave a link in the comments, so I can see your work.

Hope you have a great week. Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona xx

Our First Set of Projects!

Welcome to the Pursuit of Craftyness! We are sooo excited to be able to share our creativity via this blog. We have lots of neat things in store, so check back!

In celebration of this new beginning, we have put together a fun challenge. Julia created a card sketch and some of the designers have created cards and projects appropriate for “new” situations. You are invited to play along with us and post links to your creations. We’d LOVE to see them. Meanwhile, make yourself comfy and enjoy the eye candy.




New Home Card
Designer: Linda Beeson

Materials:
Patterned paper and punch out shapes – Loveland/Scenic Route Paper
Fluid Chalk stamp pad – Clearsnap
Tonic Paper Distresser
Rub-on words and letters – Making Memories, Luxe and Deja Views
Button brads – Making Memories
Scallop scissors – Fiskars
Machine sewing

Bloom Where You're Planted Card
Designer: Jennifer Ellefson
Finished Size: A2

SUPPLY LIST:
Cardstock: (Aqua Mist) Papertrey Ink, (Classic Linen Natural White) Neenah
Patterned Paper: (County Fair Prize Pig) October Afternoon
Stamps: (Polka Dot Basics, Spiral Bouquet) Papertrey Ink
Ink: (Aqua Mist) Papertrey Ink, (Creamy Caramel) Stampin' Up
Die: (Petite Oval Large Nestibilities) Spellbinders
Ribbon, button: craft supply



Tiny Toes Card
Designer: Melanie Douthit

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Daisy D's; Making Memories
Die Cuts: Fancy Pants
Buttons: American Crafts
Safety Pin: Making Memories
Die Cut: Provocraft
Chalk Ink: Clearsnap
Other: Ribbon



Follow Your Heart
Designer: Sherry Wright

SEI papers (Dill Blossom)
Sassafras Lass die cut edge
MME die cut
Chatterbox quote
Fancy Pants trim
Creative Crystal stones
Zip dry adhesive by Beacon

Create Notebook
Designer Kelly Anne Grundhauser

Supplies:
Small Steno notebook
The Paper Company-Corrugated Paper
Coredinations Cardstock
Mustard Moon Alpha Stickers
Provo Cuttlebug Script Embossing folder
Foofala Button
Fiskars Circle Punch
Prima Flower
Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink
Sand Paper
White Thread

Inspire Card
Designer: Melissa Phillips

Supply list:
Bazzill cardstock
Collage Press, Basic Grey, and Fancy Pants paper
Provo Craft Cuttlebug die cut
Making Memories ribbon, buttons, flower, and sticker
Ranger Stickles glitter, and ink



A Fresh Start Card
Designer: Anabelle O’Malley

Supplies:
Lace Cardstock-KI Memories
Patterned Paper-American Crafts
Paper Frills-Doodlebug
Buttons-Doodlebug
Glitter-Ranger Stickles
Floss-DMC
Font-French Script


The Higher You Bounce Card
Designer: Stacey Stamitoles
Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Paper: Making Memories
Chipboard Butterfly: Joann's
Rubon sentiment: DCWV
Ribbon: May Arts
Rubon photo corners: Creative Imaginations
Brown ink: Ranger

Oh Happy Day Card
Designer: Julia Sandvoss

Doodlebug Cardstock
K & Company Brenda Walton & Tim Coffey papers
K & Company Wedding Grand Adhesions stickers
Bo Bunny Anna Sophia striped paper
Bo Bunny Double Dot ribbon
Heidi Grace "Greetings" stamps
Paper Salon "Cogratulations" stamp
Heidi Swapp Jewels
Making Memories Velvet brad
Jenni Bowlin Jouranling Card
ColorBox Chalk Inks


New Nest Card
Designer: Jessica Witty

Supplies:
Rubber Stamps: Pretty Birds set by Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms
Cardstock is Kraft, Chocolate Chip, & Shimmery White by Stampin' Up; orange is Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Organized One Word by KI
Ink: Basic Brown, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Caramel by Stampin' UP
Ribbon: May Arts
Punch: Marvy

Have a wonderful weekend!