TastyLinks Saturday!

Operation Deck the Halls has begun! I've been placing samplings of my collection of vintage mercury glass ornaments in a variety of repurposed clear jars and adding a plethora of fresh holly and pine accents and a variety of old and new decorations. So far, so good. When it's all finished I will share some pics...if I can get some good ones!

We're hoping to get the tree trimmed this weekend, but poor Dad Guy has fallen ill so I'm not sure how much we're going to accomplish without him. I sure hope he feels better soon...

In this week's video sampling from When Creativity Knocks host Ana Araujo shares some super cute retro 60s inspired greeting card ideas!

Here's what the Crafty Bloggers have dished up for your entertainment, inspiration and edification:

The Artful Crafter Whatever the holiday, make cute pop-up place cards to organize the dinner table and delight guests of all ages.

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery See a necklace and bracelet made from the same Blue Moon Beads pendant with a how-to video with me.

Mixed Media Artist Mixed media artist Nicolette Anderson shares her lovely work!

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style Don't fence her in! Linda shares the story of her Fences and Ferns Quilt and how creativity can prosper even in dark times.

Cross Stitch at About.com The 2009 Holiday Ornament Collection is ready! Whip up some super quick back stitch ornies or cross stitch some more colorful ones.

Crafty Princess Diaries Tammy is making her first crocheted hat for herself. Now, hopefully it will be done by the time it gets cold down South!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got yummy pumpkin cookie and biscuit recipes, an inside peek into Bead Quilled Jewelry, eco friendly recipes for casein glue and an all-purpose cleaner, and starting Monday- The 19 Days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways starts, answer each day's question and you are entered to win a free book every day!

Aileen's Musings Aileen invites you to join a creative challenge with her called the Erosion Bundle Project. Take a peek at her pictures and find out exactly what erosion bundles are!

About Family Crafts Does your family have any creative Thanksgiving traditions. You can read about other people's Thanksgiving traditions and then share your own.

The Impatient Crafter Madge is ready for Christmas so bring it on! Check out this retrolicious frame she designed for iLoveToCreate

Saturday TastyLinks™

“Ain’t it funny how time slips away?”

It could not possibly have been a week since I last posted these links! Have I somehow and without my knowing entered a wrinkle in time?! I feel as if summer is flying at the speed of light, which makes me a little blue because winter seems to last forever. I simply must move somewhere warm and balmy.

Yesterday I dropped my daughter off at her last day of Shakespeare camp and I took a little side trip to one of our local antique malls in search of ephemera. I emerged triumphant! I found two magazines from the early 1900s in pristine condition overflowing with great images, one adorable postcard, a bag of slightly disturbing 1950s circus themed cardboard stand up cut-outs and this absolutely amazing photograph. I ask you. Is this a girl or is this a boy? I can not for the life of me decide. Note the hands and feet...and the awkward body language...and the hair which may or may not be short. I love it! This is a delightfully quirky picture!

I’ve been collecting these old photos for years. My former roommate Melody and I used to tell our guests they were our ancestors and concoct stories about them. I’m particularly fond of pictures of women and young girls wearing hugantic bows. In fact, I think I may need to create a collection of these bows for myself.

Ah, I blather on too much again. Good grief. Here’s your weekly sampling of TastyLinks™! Open wide and say, “AH!”

About Family Crafts I need your help! Be the first to submit a photo of this completed craft and be featured on the Family Crafts site!’’

Aileen's Musings Your help is needed...Please take a moment to help make a difference We have a chance to get our ovarian cancer charity project on the cover of a northern CA magazine. Your vote is needed! The project benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Deadline for voting is July 23rd so hurry and cast your vote!

Alexa Westerfield a.k.a. Swelldesigner Alexa shares the mental process behind creating a post on her swell craft blog.

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Craftside's got a how-to's on bleaching photos and juxtaposing images, a mixed-media journal out of a wide variety of recycled materials and a video with Scatha G. Allison where she shows the incredible designs from her book Jean Therapy. Be sure to answer the day's questions to be entered to win a free book!

Crafty Princess Diaries Have you thought about taking your craft hobby to a different level? Tammy has some thoughts to consider before crossing over the hobby/professional line.

CraftyPod SisterDiane is thrilled to unveil her new ebook, Weaving Un-Loomed: Simple Ways to Weave Cool Things.

Cross Stitch at About.com Have fun trying out these new free Candlewicking patterns Connie's sharing. If you use one, send in a photo to show it off!

Mixed Media Artist Using two very different book pages, you can create a found poem for an altered book...or just because!

Naughty Secretary Club Jen shares clever and crafty uses for suitcases that have nothing to do with holding clothing. Side tables, laptop cases and portable craft studios, oh my!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Drink Mermaids take the plunge into some silver paint and get transformed into some swimmingly fun necklaces inspired by the wonderfully innovative book A Charming Exchange.

The Artful Crafter Eileen shows you how to make a multi-strand fiber bracelet.

The Crochet Dude Drew reviews the new Simplicity Rotary Cutting Machine - offers up a free crocheted project using fabric strips - and he's giving away a Rotary Cutting Machine to one lucky commenter!

The Impatient Crafter Madge shows you how to make a quick and easy Altered Chinese Paper Lantern in her first post on Kid/Teen Crafts for I Love to Create!

Vickie Howell-Craft.Rock.Love Check out Vickie's free pattern for a knitted lace iPhone cozy!

A New Crafty Video AND Supersized TastyLinks!

My gal pal Inky a.k.a. Rebecca Peck and I made this video for Streuter Glue Film recently. She posted it on YouTube last night and it’s really a hoot in a handbasket! Plus it’s a revolutionary product so you’ve gotta watch!

This morning was one of those, why do I have to be the grown-up mornings? My kid is a world class slob. I call her The Slobovian. There is no surface in that room, including the floor, that isn’t covered with schtuff. We ask her to clean it quarterly. Is that so much? Is that so wrong? My maid who comes every two weeks just to sweep and mop for me because of my asthma can’t even go in her room because there’s that much crap on the floor. So this morning, it became a tearfest because Mom had the unmitigated gall to pronounce it time for a clean up. If only she’d let go of a few of her tchotckes and knick knacks...she’s a hoarder that one. I have absolutely no idea where she gets that...

Super Linky Love Shout out to Corrine at Articus Studio! She's got a great art and craft site and she's a delight! Thanks for your help with the wavy copper foil tape, Corrine!

Today’s Linky Love Post is SUPERSIZED with links from the Crafty Bloggers AND the Bead Babe Bloggers. The gang from Bead Bloggers were kind enough to post a link to the 411 on my classes and in return I’m sharing their links this week. They’re all incredibly talented folks and if you’d like a true craftstravaganza, grap a cuppa and get to clickin’!

xoxo
Madge

About Family Crafts Over the years I have learned some tricks when it comes to storing craft supplies and staying organized, and I am happy to share these with you.

Aileen's Musings Download some freebie Cabinet Cards from Aileen's Musings this week, and check out her gouache paint and altered cabinet card tutorial.

Cathie Filian Cathie Filian has a fun tutorial on recycling jeans into fashion cuffs with personalized patches.

Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world Kicking off the new year Craftside will theme each week with a letter from the alphabet and give away a book a week to a lucky commentor. This week there is ATC art, a free antler graphic from Design Parts Sourcebook: Romantic, photos from an appearance by Patti Medaris Culea with doll and altered book pocket design, and a sneak peek at some of the cool pages from Essential Fashion Illustration-Men.

Crafty Princess Diaries The Crafty Princess asks: Are you a tweaker or a tried and true crafty type?

Cross Stitch at About.com Be the first to stitch and submit a photo of Connie's free BGB Gizmo Pattern and have your photo featured as the stitched model. Get your 15 minutes of Cross Stitch fame!

Layers Upon Layers Fabulous artwork by a very motivated distance learner :-)

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery Check out super cute pair of camo baby booties I knit from a pattern in the book Faith, Hope, Love, Knitting.

The Crochet Dude Drew kicks off the New Year with a free pattern. Check out his "Cafe Couture"!

The Impatient Crafter If you're attending the Tucson Gem Show or CHA, Madge would love to meet you! Check out her schedule and come take a class or get a signed copy of one of her new books!

About.com Jewelry Making Since many of us are trying to get our jewelry studios organized this year, Tammy collected some excellent ideas to help out jewelry designers and crafters of all kinds.

Art Bead Scene Art Bead Scene's January Challenge is ‘Inspired by Irises’. Enter a piece of jewelry and win free beads.

Art Jewelry magazine Jill's teaching at a retreat; check out the information.

Carmi's Canvas Flower Bracelet Carmi has a short demo using the new Sticky Back canvas.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry Carter looks forward to the exciting year ahead and shares some photos from her time away from beads.

Jennifer Jangles Blog Gather some New Years inspiration from the Jangles Blog.

Jewelry & Beading Cyndi is hosting an educational blitz this month, and she's wondering if you know of classes she should add to the list.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! Book Review from Jean: Add some sparkle to your New Year with Crystal Chic, a super pretty book by Debbi Simon

Strands of Beads Looking for new shopping opportunities? Melissa suggests visiting your local rock shop!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Andrew creates a buying guide of skull related beads and pendants.