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Sunday

 
TIME to welcome the New Year!

I always love a fresh start.
  You are celebrating the new year, aren't you?
Get out your party gear and your clocks and let's get started!


Here's some fun party puns to help you welcome in 2014.


Start off the year with a BANG!
(Dollar Store play guns)



 
 It's a new year...Let's Make Some NOISE!
(party horns and noise makers)



'Pop' open a New Year!
(Pop-It's fireworks)
This could also be used with champagne or soda.


 
 
 
'Wrap' up a great year!
(Head wraps for girls found at the Dollar Store.)



For a SPARKLING Good Time!
Happy New Year!




Ring in the New Year with Ring Pops from the Dollar Store.


and my favorite...

KISS the year good-bye with a pack of Hershey's Kisses!

 
 
Click here to print out your own party puns!
(I printed mine on white copy paper and matted each tag to black cardstock.  Tie on tags with silver and gold ribbon.)


 
 

 

 
 
And don't forget to set up a New Year's Eve photo booth!
(Use wrapping paper as a backdrop, add props and a camera!)
 
Happy New Year to You!












Linking up to: CraftOManiac,
MondayInspiration,
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Saturday

It's crazy that I've been blogging for almost 3 years, now!  3 years?  Where has the time gone?
Blogging is still a hobby that I enjoy.  This 'hobby' has taken me places I never imagined for myself.  Blogger meet ups, a morning news appearance, local magazine articles, featured parties, and many new blogging friends-- met through the internet. 

Thank you to all who have supported me and continually read my blog.  I love sharing creative ideas, crafts and parties that happen in my life.  I especially love the comments, feedback and when others let me know they've used my ideas.  Thank you, friends!
 
2013 was a very interesting blogging year.
 I posted less this year as I tried to find a balance of family time and hobby time.  I'm usually happy with the balance...but it does make for some very inconsistent blogging.
I changed up my email last January, which resulted in me losing my domain name of michellepaigeblog.com.  By the time I figured it out, someone had bought it and now runs the domain with a dummy site.  I'm back to michellepaige.blogspot.com and along the way I lost a lot of readers and a lot of broken Pinterest links.  Nevertheless...I'm still blogging and enjoying it.  Crafty gifts and parties seem to be what I'm best at...at least that's what my top ten posts reveal.
 


Here are the top posts of Michelle Paige in 2013.
  

I was very surprised that so many readers enjoyed this valentine cookie idea. 
I enjoyed crafting this up for the kid's teachers. Using royal icing is a bit tedious, but the results are worth every extra minute! 
 

 
#9: Printable Easter Favors
These little Easter tags were a favorite of mine.  I used them as tags, place card markers and on cards.
It was very fun to see that others enjoyed them as well.


 

#8: StarBURST Valentines
I was so surprised that this post was popular.
I have to admit, those Starburst jellybeans do taste amazing!




 
#7: Time Themed Bridal Shower
I always love a themed party.  This bridal shower was a blast!
So many 'time' puns, 'time' scriptures and 'time-themed' games allowed this church party to come together easily.




 
#6: Top 10 Things to Buy the Day After Christmas
Last year I was laughed at when I mentioned I shop the day after Christmas.  The mocking person said, "Why would you go shopping the day after Christmas?  It's just junk and no one needs more Christmas candy!"
...I'm thinking about sending them this post.




 
#5: Rustic Wedding Reception
My first time decorating for a wedding reception.  What a big job I took on! 
So thankful it all worked out!  Whew!  Did I mention that it was the hottest day of the year in Seattle?!



 
#4: Mother's Day Tea Party BrunchThis year's Mother's Day was fancy!  Lace, china, tea cups, flowers and more.  The weather was gorgeous, which helped make everything look beautiful in the pictures.


#3: Sunday School Craft-  Shield of Faith
I'm guessing this was popular due to many churches having a medieval knight theme for their Vacation Bible School.


 
#2: Cheer Up Gifts
A good friend of mine had to deal with some tough stuff at the beginning of 2013.  This little gift was the least I could do to show I cared.  So glad others were inspired as well.  Here's wishing my friend a much better year!




 
 
#1 Most viewed post of 2013.
 
This party was for my 11 year old.  He loved helping me plan it.
The surprise hit of the party was my 'BOOM' bomb cake and the red streamer 'laser course'.
The boys kept wanting to challenge themselves to get through the lasers without touching them. 
The cake was made from a sports ball cake mold and covered with marshmallow fondant.  Thankfully, it turned out just the way my kid wanted it!

 

Want to see my top posts from 2012?

Click here.
 
 
Want to see my top posts from 2011?
 
 
 
 
Thanks for reading!  Happy New Year!
 
 
 


 
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Monday

It's almost Christmas...
I hope your 'Things To Do List' is complete and you're ready to celebrate! 

 


Sorry, but here's one more thing to do...

Plan out your Day After Christmas Shopping List!
I actually enjoy shopping on the day after Christmas. 
The crowds aren't too bad if you start out early...plus, it always feels good to have a few things tucked away- ready for next year!


Here's my Top 10 Things to Buy
on the Day After Christmas.
 
 
1)  Christmas Tree Fillers, Lights, Garlands, Wreaths, Decor--
Most craft stores sold their Christmas decorations for 1/2 off during the season.  Now is the time to look for 75% off or more!  Pack away new purchases with your Christmas things and be surprised when you unpack next year!  (I love that!)  If you're in the market for a new artificial trees, now is the time to get one.

Decorating Trees with Filler
 


 
2) Christmas Chocolate Hershey's Kisses---  So what if they're red, green and silver?  They'll keep for 6 months!  Sort the colors and use at your next get-together, party or special dinner.  Use the silver kisses in January, the red ones for Valentines Day and the green ones for St. Patrick's Day!!
(You can use this same trick for the red and green M&M's.)


New Year's Eve Décor


 
3) Christmas T-shirts and Jammies---This one is simple.  Buy and tuck away for next year!  Done!

 
4)  Red Colored Kitchen Items--
Many stores will mark down red-colored kitchen items after Christmas.  Red doesn't always have to mean Christmas...think little Valentine gifts.  Look for red cupcake liners, sprinkles, and red rubber spatulas, too. 
(Everyone always needs a red spatula-- for tomato sauce making!)

 
5) Christmas Ribbon and Wrapping Paper-- 
Great prices can be found on ribbon and wrapping paper the day after Christmas.  Pack it away for next year... or look for non-Christmas printed papers.  Solid colors, polka dots or striped paper that can be used for birthdays throughout the year is a great find. 

 
6)  Stocking stuffers--Tiny little toys, games, notebooks, etc.
Buy these to save for next year, or use for making Valentines.

I purchased these minifigure LEGO packs on Christmas clearance last year...perfect for Valentines.
LEGO Valentines

 
7)  Hand Towels and Linens--Christmas table runners, tablecloths and linen napkins are always pricey before Christmas.  Now is the time to stock up on these items for gifts to give, or for your home next year.

Quick Christmas Towel Gifts

 
8)  Socks--  Often times, fluffy socks that have no signs of Christmas on them are marked at clearance prices after Christmas.  I stock up on these and then give them as gifts.  They're perfect for 'get well soon' gifts or when someone is in the hospital...or make some teacher gifts.

You Knock Our Socks Off!


 
9)  Christmas Tins, Loaf pans, Ceramics, Cellophane packing materials, Ziplocs-- 
Don't forget to get amazing prices on the containers you need for your Christmas baking and neighbor cookie gifts.  These are always difficult to store, but you'll be thanking yourself next year when they are already purchased!

Muffin Loaves for Gift Giving



10)  Christmas Snacks
The kids won't mind if their lunch snacks are shaped like Christmas trees or reindeer in January.  Purchase Christmas crackers, pretzels and cookies for school lunches.
 
 
 
***My favorite stores to find these items: 
Target, Michaels, JoAnns, CostPlus, PierOne.
 
 
May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!










Linking up to: ChicandCraftyTheFrugalGirls,
CraftOManiac,
InspirationMonday,
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Friday

You're not going to believe this...
I've got a 5 minute gift for you to make. 
5 minutes and a trip to the craft store.
This gift is crazy-quick to assemble and perfect for grandmas or any other relative that loves pictures of your kids.

Take a look!

Taken straight from the pages of Family Fun magazine
Dec/Jan 2013 issue.
(Although, I can't seem to find a weblink for instructions.)



My mother, casually sent this article to me with a note that said, "Make me one of these for Christmas."  (Don't you just love it when moms tell you exactly what they want for Christmas?!  It sure takes the guess work out of shopping...and the surprise.  Anyways...)
 
I saved this project until the last minute...actually I forgot about it, and in the final hour of packing up to drive 5 hours to Grandma's house, I whipped it up with time to write a blog post!  Seriously!
 
 
Supplies Needed:

-A horizontal picture printed on an 8 x 10 sheet of vellum.
(Purchase vellum in a craft store. It's thin, translucent paper.
It can easily be put in your home printer and
printed with color or black and white.)
-A tall glass hurricane vase  (purchase at DollarStore or craft store.)

-regular tape
-scissors

-candle or tealight
 
 
 
 
Trim your picture to fit the outside of the glass hurricane vase.
Tape the edge right onto the glass.
Wrap picture around the vase and add more tape to secure.
 
How's that for easy?
Drop in a candle or battery operated tea light.  That's it!
...If only every handmade gift ordered by my mom was this easy.


I'm actually loving this craft and now dreaming up more ways to use this idea...a New Year's tablescape?  Valentine's Day?  Hmm...


Merry  Christmas!
We're driving over the mountain passes and through the snow...
to grandma's house.  Don't worry we have Auto Socks!

 
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Thursday

Quick! 
Do you have Youth Ministry volunteers to thank?
How about Children Ministry helpers to thank?
We do!
Here's an easy gift for all those who 'lend a hand'.


 
Purchase gloves and hand lotion.
Stick lotion inside the gloves.


...tie on a tag.



Click here to print your own Youth Ministry tags.








*This post contains affiliate links.

Fast, easy and a gift that will get used!



 Merry Christmas!








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