504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Glitter Your Holidays (Martha Stewart Crafts Giveaway)

I am keeping my holiday decorating pretty simple this year.
We have our "kid approved" tree and crate,
some nutcrackers, lights, a holiday card display,
and some sweet paper trees I made.
(tutorial happening tomorrow - that photo is a teaser!)

But no matter how low key the decor is...
I must have glitter.
A little sparkle.
A touch of whimsy and light.
An unexpected twinkle on the tree, table, or just because.
A few glittering delights make the other decor shine.

There is still time to add a little glittery goodness to your holidays as well!

I have long been a fan of #marthastewartcrafts glitter,
and when I received the Rich Essentials Glitter Set -
24 dazzling colors for all of your glittering needs.
I was almost overwhelmed at the colors and possibilities.

In fact, I think I had too many projects and not enough time...so I am saving a few of them for a later date. (the giveaway for your own set of a Rich Essentials Glitter Set is at the end of this post)

My basic supplies for these projects were simple:

Martha Stewart Crafts Rich Essentials Glitter Set
Plate Joining Biscuits (size 20)
Mod Podge and a brush
Covering for your table/workspace
I also used some ribbon and beads I had on hand
Hot glue

Wreath Ornament
I used a caning jar lid as my base and stamped joy onto a fabric circle. Mod Podge was applied to the biscuits and then glitter (heliodor) to the tops and edges.

Twinkling Teardrop Garland
I drilled a hole in each biscuit, covered it in Mod Podge and then glittered (white gold) it all over (let it dry completely) and finished it by stringing them on a red ribbon.

Dressed Up Candles
I decided to add some simple holiday glow to the ordinary too.
How about covering some old bakeware (I think these are jello molds) in Mod Podge and dousing them in glitter (graphite) - that is all I did here!

I like to roll the metal portion of votive candles in glue (Mod Podge) and glitter (heliodor) so that when I set it in a clear votive holder there is some extra shimmer and shine.
(burn candles carefully - use a glass votive holder)

Add sparkle to your holidays!
Use Your Imagination!
The Martha Stewart Crafts “Decorative Boxes,” in designs like stars, poinsettia and pine cones, can be covered in glitter and used as ornaments, decorations or unique gift boxes. One fabulously simple décor idea: glitter a group of them and then cluster together as a table centerpiece.

Worried about the a Glittery mess?
Martha Stewart Crafts has the solution! Keep crafting surfaces clean by using the “Glitter Tray and Rack,” which features an opening in one corner to easily brush excess glitter back into its container. And, if something does spill, the “Glitter Cleanup Roller” makes removing it a cinch. Plus, the roller remains sticky even after washing!

I am adding this to my Christmas List - you should see me and my house!
Remember I am a messy crafter!

So go ahead and add a sparkly sprinkle to your holiday cards, decorations, party invitations, place cards or gift tags!

For project ideas and glitter guidance
– and to find the items mentioned above –
visit MarthaStewartCrafts.com

And save 20% when you enter BLOG20 at checkout through 12/31/12

Enter the

Martha Stewart Crafts "Bag Your Holiday Bills"

Contest for your
chance to win $2,500!

Contest entry & details:

Enter here - http://on.fb.me/TPgKEr --

or for mobile, here: http://bit.ly/SzSiIE

Now how about WINING SOME GLITTER!
Open from 12/19/2012 to 12/26/2012 (times are EST)
U.S. mailing addresses

You may use an email address or your facebook account
to access the rafflecopter widget

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

disclosure: I was provided with a Rich Essential Glitter set for myself and for the giveaway.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Gingerbread Kiss Cookies

My family is obsessed with gingerbread - they all love it.

They eat it up - gone in no time flat.

I have a couple of molasses-y gingerbread-y recipes

in my arsenal but wanted to change it up a bit...

...Well, my favorite cookie is the peanut butter one with the Hershey Kiss in the middle (it, alone may have been responsible for 20 lbs during my first pregnancy)...so it dawned on me..."A gingerbread-y cookie with a Hershey Kiss would be D-E-L-I-G-H-T-F-U-L (and dangerous)"

Monday, December 17, 2012

Toffee: Three Ways to Goodness!

"The toffee became a staple on subsequent hops and was often used to barter for other necessities (matches, chew, alcohol, cold hamburgers and fries...) From California to Canada, my toffee was shared with hobos, railroad dicks, engineers, linemen, and just lain folk who wanted to chat about where I'd been. Some of those folks would invite me into their homes and let me work for them in exchange for food, cash, and a warm place to stay awhile. Invariably, their wives or daughters would ask for the recipe." -

This excerpt was written by a man named Geoff who travelled the United States by train or any other means available back when the term Hobo was used for this kind of life.

OK - let's acknowledge "hobo" is not a PC term any longer. But here's the deal, the recipe comes from Geoff and he refers to himself as a hobo - so in my book, a hobo he will be called!

When my son was in first grade, his teacher's threw a BIG cookie exchange for the class holiday party. I was room mom that year and I collected all of the recipes and made a big ole recipe/photo album/scrapbook for her. I have had this recipe for

Toffee (Hobo Style) ever since.

A recipe with a story - the best kind!

So, it is not my original recipe (and it sounds very similar to most of the toffee recipes I have seen) and I don't know Geoff - another mom contributed this to our cookie exchange. I do love the story that accompanies the recipe - be sure to see his quote at the end!

Toffee (Hobo Style)
I assure you you can do this - I shy away from candy thermometers and such but this was pretty simple and oh so good!

1 Pound Butter
2 Cups Sugar
2 Cups Nuts (walnuts or almonds, coarsely chopped)
Approx. 1 cup walnuts of almond, finely chopped
Approximately 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips

1. Coarse chop EXACLTY 2 cups of nuts and place in a bowl.
2. Measure EXACTLY 2 cups of sugar and place in bowl with the nuts.

3. Finely chop 1 cup nuts, set aside.
4. Line a (rimmed) cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
5. Melt 1 pound of butter in a sauce pan on medium-low heat.
6. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar and nut mixture.

7. Turn the heat to high and, with a metal spoon, stirring the mixture constantly for 8-9 minutes.*
8. When the mixture turns a dark caramel color and begins to "smoke" (let is smoke for 15-30 seconds) it is ready to pour onto the foil lined cookie sheet. Spread it evenly.*

NOTES: The first time I made it, I over cooked it...it still tasted good but you could see the butter "residue." I never saw "smoke" and kept stirring. Geoff recommends using a timer. The last batch I made I used a timer and set it for 8 minutes 30 seconds. At 8 minutes, I turned the heat off, gave it a stir, and then poured.

9. Once the mixture is spread evenly, sprinkle the chocolate chips all over and let them melt on the hot mixture for about 1 minute. Spread the melted chocolate with a spatula.

10. Sprinkle the finely chopped nuts on top and press down lightly. You may notice I was being lazy - Imean efficient...I wanted a few different types of toffee but did not want to make full recipes of each...so I pressed all three variations into one tray.

11. Allow to cool completely before breaking it into pieces.

Toffee (Hobo Style) #2

Add one tablespoon real vanilla extract to the butter when melting.
Replace the semi-sweet or milk chocolate with DARK chocolate (YUM!)
Toast the almonds in a toaster oven for about 5 minutes

Toffee (Hobo Style)#3 TOPPINGS!

Either with the finely chopped nuts or in lieu of, add:

Mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers.
Chopped dried cranberries and almonds
Crushed candy cane

"Enjoy the toffee.

Let it take you back to those sweet,

sweet times when you didn't have a care in the world.

Don't share it with just anybody, it's too good for that.

Give it to those who are friendly,

who smile, look you in the eye, shake your hand firmly

or tell you a good joke...you know just regular folks." - Geoff

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Today's Creative Blog, Get Your Craft On!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Tickled Pink No. 126

Welcome to Tickled Pink!

Hi all!

How was your week?
Who is ready for the holidays?
I am trying...I am determined to not be a crazed momma
I managed it last year. Can I make it 2 in a row!

What did you do this week?
I got one present finished
and have a GIVEAWAY TOO!
win your own family rules printable!

I made this AWESOME CRATE to hide my Christmas tree stand
(my photos are not so awesome)

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FEATURES

HERE ARE A FEW GOODIES FROM LAST WEEK

You can Grab a Button!

I do not know how I missed this on her blog last year...this method of glitter and wood floor polish is AMAZING. I HAVE TRIED IT. You glittered my world The Single Nester


I am obsessed with under the tree (see my crate above)...LOVE this ruffled tree skirt from The Thinking Closet!


Glass Trees from Alderberry Hill are simply stunning!

I will take 4 dozen please! Andes Mint Creme Filled Cupcakes from Blog529

It's a holiday flavor explosion -peppermint shortbread cookies with eggnog cream cheese frosting! Yummo Sew-licious Home

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NOW FOR TICKLED PINK!

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a poem...a fashion find...a favorite product...your favorite post...whatever makes your blog fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does NOT have to be PINK}

Grab a button HERE!
or here!

PRACTICE PINK KINDNESS

Will everyone do me a FAVOR????

Please visit the person linked before you...

Pretty Please!

1. Link up...whatever makes your blog fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? Your post does not have to be PINK!! I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not adhere to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, ****NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button or TEXT link back to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
4. Please visit a couple other links!

TICKLED PINK DOES NOT HAVE Categories anymore!

By linking up...you grant me permission to use a photo if you are featured. Proper credit will be given.

Link Up what ever made you or your blog FAB this week!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Family...I Mean Dad's Rules (Family Rules Giveaway)

My parents are hard to buy for...

they have what they need...

they know how to spend money

(I inherited that from someone!)...

And well this year, with no one in this house having a real paying job,

holiday gifts are of the more DIY and sentimental sort.

I love Signs by Andrea.

I totally want that baseball scoreboard
or the other baseball decor for my kids room
I think her signs are fun and fabulous!

Recently she offered to let me try out her DIY Printables and to host a
Family Rules DIY Printable Giveaway.
These DIY Printables are great not only for Family Rules, but what about

"Craft Room Rules"

"Kitchen Rules"

the possibilities are endless!

I mounted mine on a wood plaque but for a quick gift, just grab a frame and frame the print. It will look great and you will look thoughtful!

I was so excited.

I got to thinking about our family rules

and only came up with a bunch of sarcastic ones...

and then it hit me - I need a present for my Dad!

My Dad loves his garage/driveway/outdoor area...

(you can read more about what he taught me if you want)

so why not create a little something for him

(I already had an idea for my Mom.)

I headed over to Signs By Andrea to work on my

Customizable Family Rules printable.

I have NEVER done anything like this...but guess what I was amazed at how easy the process is. And in no time at all, I had a fun an personal gift...for a great price!

First you select a title for your rules.

Then, add your rules or use some of the provided ones.

Select a style for you rules.

Choose a text and background color.

(I played with some different styles and colors until I found what I liked)

THAT IS IT!

Once you have that done, you can select a

DIY Printable that you can download and print out at home,

a poster print that is professionally printed in a large format,

A wrapped canvas for a super cool look

I selected a DIY Printable

(and that is what the giveaway if for too)

Then my printer stunk it up...

so I saved it to a disk and printed it out at FedEx Kinko's.

(Thank you Kinkos! Still may savior after all these years!)

I did manage to print out a copy on canvas paper - love that look!

I then painted over a wood plaque I picked up a goodwill, cut and mod podged the printable on, finished the edges with some washers (it is going in a garage!) and hung it with a Dischanger.

I am sure it will go well next to his Dink's Hot Rod Garage sign

and his license plate collection

GIVEAWAY!

Runs from 12/12 to 12/17/12
Entries must be done using rafflecopter.
You can use your facebook log in or your email

FOR THE OPTIONAL PINTEREST ENTRY, here is a sample of the pin
There is a pin it button right above the family rules graphic.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

disclosure: I was provided with a family rules printable for myself and one to giveaway.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Let's Shop and Support Blogger Friends!

How is your shopping going?
Here are a few awesome opportunities to catch up and support small business.
FYI- No one paid to be here or even asked to be here.
These are just some people I love and have cool stuff.

photo: istock photos

If you pin something, PLEASE head to the appropriate persons blog or website. All of these images except the bunny and scottie one below are property of the shop owners.
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Hook and Linen is based in Australia - don't let that stop ya - the shipping was reasonable and so worth it! These sweet animals are so cute my daughter and I fight over them!

I MORE THAN LOVE her vintage crocheted floor mats...1 or 10 are on my wish list!

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One of the sweetest ladies EVER is Jen from Delightful Deets.
And you have to see these adorable pettirompers and headbands.
Contact Jen over at her blog if you want one. They fit up to 5T

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What kiddo couldn't use a mask or cape?

Heck, I want one!

Kissed by a Frog (LOVE this girl!) has super cute items for kids in her etsy store. She is offering FREE SHIPPING and FREE PERSONALIZATION right now! Order quick!

And there are TWO AWESOME GIVEAWAYS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW:
ONE FOR BOYS AND ONE FOR GIRLS

Here is a sampling of what she offers

Masks and Capes

PLUS, as part of the HEROES WITH HOPE program one "Bald is Beautiful/Brave" cape will be donated to one of the bravest heroes (a child fighting cancer).