This Do It Yourself project shows you how to use old wooden yardsticks and turn them into a one of a kind coat rack.

I love the distressed look that has some vintage uniqueness that your gusts will rave about.

Supplies:

• 1-inch plywood, cut to 6×24 inches
• Five wood yardsticks (can be used)
• Wood glue
• Wood stain
• Polyurethane, matte or gloss
• Three metal hooks with screws

Tools Used:

• Metal straightedge
• Pencil
• Coping saw
• Cotton rag
• Paintbrush
• Drill/driver

If you’re throwing a New Years party try making personalized 2009 toasting glasses! This project uses inexpensive champagne glasses and a craft etching cream to turn simple glasses into elegant celebratory ware! So make a few to toast your favorite bubbly!
Thanks to Cathi Filian for posting step by step directions shown below, this will be easy to get done in time for tomorrow night!

Etched Toasting Glasses
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Supplies:

Champagne glass
Letter stickers or shapes
Glass etching cream
Paintbrush
Scissors
Rubber gloves
Sink

Steps:

1. Decide on a design plan. Cut around the letter stickers of your choice, leaving a space around the edge of the letter. Optional: If you want to use your own design, you can cut out a design from heavy-duty shelf paper.

2. Clean and dry glass thoroughly.

3. Making a stencil from the cut letter: Peel the letter from the cut piece and discard it. Make sure you keep any “inserts” from the letters (like the inside of an O). This will be the stencil.

4. Apply the stencil and any letter “inserts” to the glass. You can line them up straight or go for a more whimsical look by applying them randomly. You can use a piece of tape to help you line them up straight. Burnish the stencil into the glass using your fingers.

5. Applying the etching cream: While wearing rubber gloves and working on a protected surface open the etching cream. Using a paintbrush, liberally apply the etching cream inside the stencils. Remember that wherever the cream touches the glass will etch, so be careful not to go over the stencil.

6. Wait 5 minutes for the etching cream to react to the glass. Wearing rubber gloves, wash the etching cream off the glass and pull off the stickers.

Want to make unique chic magnets to showcase on your refrigerator, bulletin board or work space at the office? Try this project that is easy for kids or adults to enjoy and get a little creative! All the materials needed are fairly inexpensive and easy to find at almost any store. Below are some examples found on Flickr to give you an idea or maybe a little inspiration.

Supplies:

- Flat marbles/ glass gems
- Round heavy duty magnets
- Modge Podge decoupage glue
- Small paintbrush or foam brush
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks or E6000 glue
- Scissors or circle punch
- Decorative scrapbook paper

Directions:

1. Cut your image to the same size as the marble.
2. Brush Mod Podge over the photo with brush.
3. Place the gem onto the image (flat side down) while wiping away any extra glue on the side.
4. When glue is completely dry, use hot glue (or use E6000 glue) to adhere magnet to the flat side of the jewel.

Other ideas:

* Instead of using magnet backs, use push pins for bulletin boards!
* Use fabric, wrapping paper, photographs, newspaper, old maps
* Place magnets in a mini gift tin for a gift or easy storage

The day after Christmas is well known for it’s great deals in stores and online. So today I was on the lookout for some good steals and deals. Today I came across a 10$ off code for Perfume Worldwide.com so that I snagged up some new yummy perfume to smell nice going into the New Year of 2009! Enjoy

A holiday taste with cranberries! I came across this bread recipe on allrecipes.com right before Thanksgiving of this year, took it to my parents for the “big meal” and everyone loved it! This will be a staple on our table for years and holidays to come.

Cranberry Orange Bread
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INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• Grated peel of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
• 2 tablespoons hot water
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg. Add orange juice, peel, butter and hot water. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Gently fold in cranberries and walnuts. Spoon into greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Supplies:

• candy canes
• cookie sheet
• parchment paper, vegetable oil or silicone baking mat

Directions:

1. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat OR spray with vegetable spray. Unwrap your candy canes. We had several break while unwrapping them so I’ve saved them in order to try peppermint bark or something later. (I’m not too big on eating straight candy; I’ve gotta’ have chocolate in there.)

2. Place two candy canes close together on the sheet to form a heart. Put the sheet in the oven set to 250 degrees.

3. We left the candy canes in the oven for 10 minutes without looking the first time and ended up with hearts, but they were flat. We wanted them to still be round so tried it again. We kept an eye on the candy canes the second time and took them out after 5 minutes.

4. They were malleable enough to squeeze the tops and bottoms together, but still held their shape. We also molded the sides out to form more of a rounded heart.

1. Push 3 marshmallows onto the sticks. The stick should come about 3/4 of the way through the top marshmallow(the head), but should not poke all the way through. The marshmallows should be touching each other (no gaps in between). The flat sides should all face up.
2. Melt white chocolate according to the package directions in a medium bowl.
3. Working quickly, dip marshmallow pops into the white chocolate. The marshmallows need to be completely covered, or they will get hard and yucky. Shake slightly to allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper. While the chocolate is still wet, add M&Ms for eyes, nose and buttons.
4. Allow chocolate to set. Peel from waxed paper and wrap in cellophane. Tie with ribbon and store in a cool place.

Tips:
*If the chocolate starts to get too thick, you may need to re-melt it.
*Add some other decorations to the snowmen. Maybe pretzel stick arms or a scarf made from a fruit roll-up.

It has been snowing on and off the past week in Oregon! Today the storm arrived full throttle and has not let up yet. Here in our neck of the woods snow reaching near the foot mark today! We are as prepared for it as we can be. Stocked up on groceries and extra batteries just in case. We are just praying we don’t lose power because is is just TOO cold to stay home with no heat. The roads are bare without any human activity, getting around out here is a challenge with the roads iced and snow covered it could be impossible. I came across an old pair of rusty chains in the trunk of my car, Jeff put them on Wednesday night and I headed out to my first day of work for the week on Thursday. Back at home for the weekend we just await the weather and plan for the days further as Christmas is days upon us.