Make This Gift: Cheerful Paint-by-Numbers Coasters

DIY Paint-by-Numbers Style Coasters

DIY Paint-by-Numbers Coasters, photo by Halligan Smith

You guys, please tell me I’m not alone in my obsession with coasters… I mean, I really can’t get enough of them! Good thing there are so many fantastic DIY possibilities out there, including these colorful paint-by-number style beauties created by Halligan Smith. The way I see it, everyone needs coasters, right? Consider making and giving a set for birthdays, thank-yous, house warming parties, or just because! Halligan shares the process (and even offers free templates for all four designs) over on Design*Sponge, so go check it out!

Have you spied any other clever DIY coaster designs? Let’s have a coaster part—share your faves in the comments!

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Make Their Day All Year Long: 15 Calendars for 2012!

2012 tea towel calendar

2012 Tea Towel Calendar from Flytrap

Well friends, another year is quickly coming to a close. This is a time for reflection, examination, and resolution; time to take stock of all we did, said, hoped for and achieved in 2011. But it’s also time to plan and pave the way for a new year and what better way to kick that off than with a brand new 2012 calendar? Not only are they great items to treat yourself with and keep you organized, they also make great gifts. Here is our 2012 calendar round-up for just about everyone on your list!

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2012 Rustic Letterpress Calendar by Yeehaw Industries

Give & Tell

Give & Tell with Amy Turn Sharp of Little Alouette

I met Amy shortly after Alt last year. She’s a hoot, a poet, and the wood queen of Little Alouette, an organic wooden toy shop she runs alongside her master carpenter husband, Joe.

Their toys are beautifully handcrafted, wonderfully natural, and the kind you keep in the family for a long time. I gifted a wooden letter H to baby Harper last spring and I’m still waiting for the right little person to come along to give these gorgeous stackers to. Love the grain, don’t you?

If you need a gift for a wee one in time for Christmas or Hannukah, this wooden guitar and mustache rattle are in stock and ready to ship. And they’re awesome. Naturally.

Amy’s a mother of 3 in Columbus, Ohio. She’s also a public speaker, novelist, twitter addict, and blogger. Babble has named her as one of the top 50 Etsy Moms two years in a row. Thanks for joining us Amy!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?

When I had my last baby my friends bought me hours of mothers helpers in advance. That was ace. I will always think about that. Mother’s are good gift givers.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?

I think when I collected a life scrap book for my gran’s 89th birthday. I took photos and letters from everyone in her life and mementos and compiled them together in a large book. She cried for days and days. She held the book for a long time.
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Give & Tell

Give & Tell with Badder Homes & Gardens

As we begin to brine our brilliantly basted turkeys, spoon splendid stuffings and gather gorgeous gourds for our centerpieces, how about a break from the fancy finer things? In fact, let’s do the opposite of that.

If you’re easily offended and/or have zero sense of humor, stop reading and get back to that pie crust. But if you love a good laugh and girls who tell it like it is, then I’ve got a treat for you.

Say hello to the unMartha’s of Texas, Krista, Sarah, and Nikki. They’re smart, funny, sarcastic, and they swear a lot. They’re the authors of Badder Homes & Gardens—”the bad girls guide to good housekeeping”—and they’re sharing their gifting wisdom and woes with us today. Nikki even threw in a little tutorial for you.

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Gift it

Apple & Cherry & Pumpkin – OH MY – It’s the Holidays, Let’s Make Pie!

Pies made with the Breville Personal Pie Maker

Ever hear the term “all the rage?” It’s often used to refer to current trending items or topics. Lucky for us, pies are “all the rage” every year. Fall is in full swing, and winter is creeping just around the corner and what better way to ward off those harsh cold nights than with pie? Particularly with the holidays in full swing, pies are more popular than ever this time of year and whether you’re a natural Martha Stewart in the kitchen or deathly afraid of baking, we’ve got you covered!

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