Idle Hands Awake

100 Modern DIY Gift Ideas

11.30.16

You guys, it’s December tomorrow and it’s freaking me out.

Doesn’t this happen every year? Once Halloween is over, it’s wham bam thank you ma’am and suddenly we’re in the post-New-Year’s dead zone. You know, the awful two months where nothing is happening except all.the.snow.

But I guess I’m getting ahead of myself. We still have Christmas and Hanukkah and all the good winter holidays to go. Which means, it’s time for gifts!

I know it’s very tempting to use Amazon for everything, buuuuut…I’ve rounded up one hundred modern DIY gift ideas and the least you can do for my feelings is pretend you might make one or two, ok?

I promise not to judge if you end up making a “gift” for yourself. Read More

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Lately

On Giving Thanks

11.23.16

I’ve said often and loudly (and even in crafts) that my favorite thing about the holidays is all the food.

While that is still true—let’s be honest, nothing under the sun is better than mashed potatoes and gravy—I’m trying to be a bit more reflective this year.

Many people far more eloquent than me have said good things about pausing to give thanks. And, I just wrote a little bit about what I personally am thankful for in my last post. So rather than do a whole long thing, I’m just going to say: I’m so thankful to be part of this vibrant, creative, supportive community. Thank you, friends both in real life and online, for clicking, commenting, liking, and cheering me on!

This year my sister-in-law has asked that instead of smothering her children in gifts, we all give to a needy cause in their names. If you feel like celebrating the holidays in this way too, you can find a ranking of charitable organizations, and how they spend their funds, here at Charity Watchdog.

And yes, we’ll probably get my nephews little gifts too. 🙂

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Printables

Thankful For Printable to Celebrate Good Things this Thanksgiving

11.10.16

I’m not gonna lie, this week has been a rough. While I don’t like to use my blog as a political soapbox, I do have to say—I am extremely disheartened by the U.S. election results. It’s hard to think of crafts and holidays and blog cheerfulness when I feel so anxious for myself and for the world.

But, I’m trying to remember that this is all the more reason to keep on going. To keep trying to make our lives better. For me, right now, that means losing myself in creativity, making pretty things, and sharing them with you. It may be meaningless in the grand scheme of the universe, but it has meaning for me, and that is enough reason to do it.

As it happens, my planned post for today is all about pausing to be thankful, and I think we need it this week more than ever! I’ve been making an effort to celebrate holidays for the feelings they encourage, rather than their historical or commercialized contexts. One way to do that is to keep my life in perspective. There are days when mourning and anger need to be expressed, but it’s a short, short life we get, and I don’t want to live it sad and angry. I want to remember all that I have and all that I can do.

So I’ve made this thankful for printable to share with friends and family this Thanksgiving. It’s modern and fresh with watercolor in lapis, blush, and honey. Yes, I use fancy words for colors to make myself sound smarter.

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Lately

Hello Friday – On Hurdles to Jump

10.28.16

Sometimes it seems like the universe just wants to screw with you.

Like, you order a piece of furniture online, and spend a lot oftime assembling it, only to find that the last part is broken and you have to take it all apart and ship it back.

Or, you finally sit down to call your health insurance, knowing it will take forever, and are on hold for 48 minutes, only to have the call dropped and then have to call back and start over.

Yeah, I’ve had one of those weeks. Throw in a migraine, the first real cold front of the season, and the never-ending 2016 election drama, and I am READY for this weekend.

Here’s some links that have kept me inspired (or at least sane):

+++ a puppy that just can’t get enough

+++ the most delicious-looking cocktail

+++ this photo which makes me want to go to there

+++ proof that I’m not the only one

+++ my fancy new watch that you can win here

+++ these pumpkin votives

+++ a classy crazy cat person DIY

+++ this bathroom which has me fantasizing about a long relaxing tub soak

What absurdity went wrong for you this week? Or went right? I won’t be jealous and bitter, promise.

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Inspiration

Last Minute No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

10.25.16

This is the first year I’ve ever, ever made a holiday themed DIY when I intended to.

So, I have a long history of needing quick and easy projects. You too? Then these last minute no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas are for you.

And yes, one of them is my own DIY! Can’t blame a girl for a little self-promotion.

+++ marbled indigo pumpkins / Alice & Lois +++

+++ paint splatter pumpkins / Homey oh My +++

+++ winking eye pumpkin with printable / Idle Hands Awake ++

+++ melted wax pumpkins / Apartment 34 +++

+++ retro label pumpkins / A Bubbly Life +++

+++ eye tattooed pumpkins with printable (I couldn’t resist more eye pumpkins!) / Proper +++

+++ concrete pumpkins / Sugar and Charm +++

Are you going to any Halloween parties this year? Alan and I are going to a laid-back party on Saturday, but it’s specifically anti-costume and I’m disappointed. Although I’m also too lazy to host my own costume party…

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