Preorder Move Slow & Make Things, and enjoy a collection of thoughtful bonus content created just for you!

Winter

winter, holiday, and christmas home decorating ideas, recipes, and crafts

crafts

my top 15 favorite Christmas crafts

Last year, I was particularly in the mood to get crafty for Christmas.  Some years, I just want to focus on big-picture decorating, but last year, it was the details that captured my attention and I really loved it.  I have already dried my oranges and bought the ingredients to make some new salt dough ornaments, so I am ready to start making things!  If you’re feeling that same pull, I hope this curated list of fifteen of my favorite Christmas crafts I’ve made over the years will get your wheels turning… favorite christmas crafts | one | salt dough ornaments I bought some cookie molds on a whim off of an Instagram ad and it felt like it might’ve been a purchase I would regret.  I ended up using those molds to make salt dough ornaments and cinnamon salt dough ornaments and I absolutely love how they turned out. 

Read More
Decorating

christmas decorating sources 2022

I think 2021 was my favorite year so far when it comes to decorating for Christmas.  I started early because I felt like it and I genuinely enjoyed the process, the projects, and relishing the season.  This year, it’s a little harder because we’re still in the middle of projects, painting, and settling in.  I’m going to start decorating after Thanksgiving and I am looking forward to it, but I don’t think it will be quite as magical as last year.  Maybe it’ll surprise me… Since I enjoyed Christmas decorating last year so thoroughly, though, I thought I would share sources for things I used last year that are available again this year. faux stag antlers | faux cedar garland | chunky knit stockings | velvet ribbon The stockings weren’t available for a couple of seasons after I first bought them, but they are back again!  I personalized them with

Read More
Holiday

salt dough ornament molds

Too soon?  Yes, of course, it’s too soon for Christmas posts, but I am starting to think about Christmas projects and decorations.  I really enjoyed making things for Christmas last year and I would like to do more of that this year.  I sold the salt dough ornaments I made last year because I was pretty sure they wouldn’t fair well stored in a hot container with our other household belongings, so I will definitely be making more of those things year.  I wanted to get some new molds and I decided to shop for them before the Christmas-shopping rush. Remember these?  You can find a recipe and tutorial for making these “gingerbread” salt dough ornaments HERE. You can purchase the windmill mold and the bird & flower mold HERE and HERE.  These sold out pretty quickly last year, which is why I am sharing them now. I also made

Read More
a slice of life

Bavarian Pretzels (Bretzels) Recipe

For Christmas, I got a cookbook called .  It’s an excellent book if you’re interested in learning about or improving your bread baking.  As I read through it, I was surprised to see a recipe for German/Bavarian soft pretzels (bretzels.)   These delicious soft pretzels spilled over the German border into France and were adopted by the region of Alsace.  For those who don’t know, I’m a military brat who spent most of my childhood in Germany and soft pretzels were my very favorite thing.  I was excited at the idea of being able to make an authentic-tasting recipe at home, so I made my first batch on New Year’s Day. Over my winter break, perfecting Bavarian pretzels became one of my missions.  I think I ended up making five batches over three weeks and I tested, tweaked, and tasted.  Lots of tasting!  I don’t want to say they are perfect

Read More
a slice of life

parker house rolls

Have you tried the “Parker House Rolls” recipe by Half Baked Harvest?  You can find the printable recipe and all of the details HERE.  I made them last year for the first time and they were so delicious.  My family talked about them as Thanksgiving approached this year.  “…and you’re making those rolls, right?”   “Mom, why can’t you make bread like this for just a normal day.”  And, I must admit, as someone who loves bread and butter, I was looking forward to these at Thanksgiving as well.  I’ll be making them again for Christmas along with some cinnamon buns for Christmas eve. English Scullery Chopper | French rolling pin Last year, I tried making the Parker House rolls recipe a day ahead and putting them in the fridge overnight between rises, but they didn’t turn out quite as well as just making them the same day.  While they aren’t

Read More
crafts

mini advent stocking tutorial | Christmas crafts

Disclosure: This mini advent stocking tutorial is sponsored by Walmart.  As always, all words and opinions shared are honest and my own. When I shared my mini advent stockings just a few weeks ago, several people asked me for measurements and more information so they could make their own.  I already have a full set and some extras, but I measured the ones I have, made a template, and made one so I could share a mini advent stocking tutorial.  It’s a little close to Christmas to try to whip out advent stockings, but it would be a fun project to work on over the year with fabric scraps. My set of stockings was originally made by Ann of On Sutton Place and she did a beautiful job on them.  She is so much more precise than I am!  As I was cutting custom tags using the Cricut and other

Read More
crafts

polymer clay ornaments & tags | christmas crafts

Are you ready for another Christmas craft?  I have just a couple more to share this week leading up to Christmas.  I have been wanting to play with polymer clay for a while and after enjoying the salt dough projects, I decided this was the year I would make polymer clay ornaments.  And I definitely enjoyed it!  I have vague memories of working with polymer clay in the past, but it’s been a very long time…long enough for me to say I was starting completely from scratch.  So, I might’ve gone rogue and done things completely wrong, but I just followed the instructions on the clay package and tried not to overthink things. I’m often asked how I get so much done and I think that one of the answers is I worry about doing things, not doing them right.  I have low expectations for my first time doing something

Read More
crafts

custom cut gift tags | Christmas crafts

Disclosure: This post on custom-cut gift tags is sponsored by Walmart.  As always, all words and opinions are honest and my own. I’m squeezing in as much Christmas crafting this year as I can!  Craftiness might even happen right up through Christmas Eve.  We’ll see how long this momentum carries me!  Today, I’m sharing a new crafting toy with you along with some custom-cut gift tags I made to match my wrapping paper designs… I got a Cricut from Walmart! I also bought that beautiful pair of scissors when I was shopping for the grazing platter I shared last week.  (As a side note, my favorite scissors for fabric & paper are forged scissors, but at just under $14, they are half the price and still make a nice crisp cut through fabric and paper.  They’d be a great stocking stuffer for crafters/sewers.)  As I’ve shared before, I’m always impressed

Read More

I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

next art sale

May 20th, 2026 at 1pm EST

Now Available for Preorder

Move Slow & Make Things

A book about creativity, intention, and making things with care. Sign up to receive updates, preorder details, and exclusive bonus content.

From the Studio

Artful pieces for your home and everyday life.

From original paintings and art prints to Pup Club releases and curated goods, each piece is created or chosen to bring warmth, creativity, and character into your home.

From the Studio and Home

Shop the Feed

A handpicked collection of items styled and shared throughout posts, projects, and social feeds. Every product is thoughtfully chosen to reflect a timeless, collected aesthetic.

Recent Video

Spring Posts

Explore the Shop

Explore the Blog

Categories
error: Content is protected.

Pin It on Pinterest