Symphonic Saturday: Sunday Edition, 120912

 “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
~Charles Dickens,  "A Christmas Carol"

Okay, so two points of note at the beginning of this "Symphonic Saturday" post:

(1) Although it IS officially the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, since the Festival of Lights lasts through next weekend, I will be paying tribute to that side of my heritage and to my many Jewish friends in the next edition of "Symphonic Saturday," =)

and  

(2) This week, two of my Girls (very talented and crafty goddesses) and I were getting prepared for, and then yesterday pimping our wares at, a local Holiday Bazaar this weekend ;) ... SO this week's "Saturday Symphonic" got bumped... and though I did attempt my hand at a mobile version of this post (anyone else trying to take their blog on the road??), I was, sadly, experiencing technical difficulties =/ ... Hence the "Sunday Edition" (see what I did there?? ;oP)...

I was, however, greatly inspired by yesterday's deluge of holiday spirit and tuneage, and I am now excited to share some of my very favorites with you, so here we go...

"Christmas Time is Here" from your favorite and mine,  A Charlie Brown Christmas

"White Christmas", written by Irving Berlin, and sung here by Bing Crosby - from another favorite movie, White Christmas

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" ~sung by a very talented Olivia Olson, from the wonderful movie Love Actually

...Here's a treat... =)

"Carol of the Bells" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, complete with synchronized holiday lighting... Gotta love it!! ;)


And for today's Sunday Edition of "Symphonic Saturday" finale,
my favorite Boyz from Indiana: Straight No Chaser

with "The Christmas Can-Can" from their 2009 holiday album, "Christmas Cheers"
~ this live version always makes me giggle...
AND it's complete with a nod to the Festival of Lights! =))
HOW awesome is that?!?

HOW MUCH FUN ARE THE HOLIDAYS?!?! =oD  ...If this doesn't inject the holiday spirit into your heart and soul, ... Well, we definitely need to talk if that's the case! ;oP 

What are you always happy to get to hear when the holiday music starts playing all around your world this time of year? =)  Leave me a comment, and let me know what some of YOUR favorites are. =)


Merry Christmas!!
and
Happy Hanukkah!!
=0D

And be sure to stop by tomorrow for another fun "Make Something Monday"!

May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Wordless Wednesday, 120512

"If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough."   ~Robert Capa

 Welcome back to Wordless Wednesday!! =)

 Today's picture is a simple one- a simple exercise in a little creativity. =) ...See what you think...

What's your Wordless Wednesday look like?? =)  

Join in the fun: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beholdentonone/ 

May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Tithing Tuesday, 120412: A #GivingTuesday Follow-Up

"Giving Tuesday Spurred 113% Spike In Number Of Donations..." 

How awesome is this?!? =)

As a follow-up to last week's Tithing Tuesday post, I wanted to give a shout out to all the wonderfully generous souls out there who have participated in the making of what will surely become a new holiday tradition: #GivingTuesday

According to an article The Chronicle of Philanthropy, the organization "Network for Good", an online processor of charitable gifts, reported the above headline, stating that the total number of donations made through their service site more than doubled, to 113 percent, on #GivingTuesday versus the Tuesday after Thanksgiving 2011, and was also above the amount collected on Monday, as well.

And Network for Good's success was a real indication of how charities and causes across the board fared from Tuesday's boost in 'giving consciousness' and exposure to causes, thanks to  #GivingTuesday.  And WHAT a wonderful way to begin this holiday season, isn't it?! =oD

That’s the Spirit!! …Let’s keep up the giving, sharing, and helping, and really let the meaning of the season  live in each and every one of us this year!! =)

Happy Holidays!!
May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Make Something Monday: Bookish Snowman Ornament

"I suppose it all started with the snow. You see, it was a very special kind of snow. A snow that made the happy happier, and the giddy even giddier. A snow that'd make a homecoming homier, and natural enemies, friends..." ~Romeo Muller, "Frosty the Snowman"

Hello, and welcome back to Make Something Monday!! =)  Thanks for stopping back by!

In light of the fact that the holiday season has officially kicked off, I've got a really fun craft tutorial today: a Bookish Snowman Ornament. =)  These adorable little guys are very fun to do, pretty easy, and will compliment anybody's Holiday collection.

SO let's get started...

First, the supplies needed are:

• a round ornament- paper mache or glass (I am using a glass globe here.)
• old book pages
• Mod Podge, and an applicator
• hole punch
• black scrap paper or cardstock
• paintbrush
• acrylic paint in orange, brown, and pink
• hot glue gun and glue stick

Step One: 
Tear pages from an old book.  Use something you have lying around that you haven't read in a while, or visit a ReStore and pick up a few used books, while helping a worthy cause! =)  [I did just that, and used a copy of "The Angel on the Roof" by Russell Banks that I got at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.] 

Now, tear those pages into small pieces, enough to cover the ornament (or ornaments, if you are doing more than one).  The smaller the pieces, the smoother the look of the finished product.  I ripped mine into varying sizes of strips...

Step Two:

Begin applying strips of paper to your ornament by coating areas of the surface with Mod Podge and affixing the paper around the surface...

Repeat this step until your entire ornament is covered by the paper...

At this point, it should look like this...

=)

Good! 

Step Three:

Now it's time for a carrot top nose...

Cut a 2-2 1/2" square piece from a book page.

Roll this piece into the shape of a cone.  [If you find you have a difficult time getting it started, use the aid of a pencil to start the curling of the paper. =)  Does the trick every time! ;) ]

Roll the cone fairly tight, and dab a bit of Mod Podge on the outside edge to keep it from unraveling on you.  

Now your snowman has a nose. =)

Heat up your glue gun, and glue your nose to your snowman's face, somewhere in the center region of the side you have deemed the snowman's face. =)  

I found that: 

• (a) a little bit of Mod Podge at this step as well, setting the nose where I wanted it to be, saved me a bit of a headache while operating the glue gun, and 
• (b) the nose turning ever-so-slightly upward gave the cutest look. =0)

 Great! =) Your snowman is starting to come to life!

Step Four:
At this point, your carroty nose doesn't look very carroty, so let's paint it with our orange acrylic paint. =)

Step Five:
Your snowman looks a little funny right now, but I assure you, we are about to remedy that! ;)
With your hole punch (a standard size office type is just fine), punch out 8 pieces from your black cardstock.

These will serve as your "coal" for the eyes and mouth. 

I used Mod Podge to affix these pieces, and it worked great, but if you love your glue gun, have a go! =)

Isn't he already SO cute?? ;)

Step Six:

Now we are going to put just a little flush in this little guy's cheeks, because Baby, it's cold outside! ;oP

Use your pink acrylic paint, dilute it (I used white acrylic paint to lighten up the pink color I had), and lightly paint on a pair of "rosy" cheeks.  

Now be ginger here; I want you to think 'Audrey Hepburn', not 'Tammy Faye Baker', if you know what I mean! ;oP [heheeheh]

Okay, maybe a little 'Dolly Parton'... ;oP

Step Seven:
Now it's time to put the finishing touches on and "vintage-fy" [yes, I did just totally make up a word right there! ;oP] our cute little snowman, and give his look some depth.
Take the brown acrylic paint, dilute its color a bit, and gingerly brush the overall surface of your snowman...

Step Eight:

Pat yourself on the back: great job!  Isn't he just ADORABLE?!?! =oD  I love him- Don't you??

Seriously: SO cute!! =))

I love this little guy SO much, I think I am going to make him a few friends and take them to this weekend's craft show!!

 What do ya think... Would YOU take me home for Christmas?? =)

AAAwww~ SO much fun...
Did you make one? =) ... Did you make a family of them?? ;)  ...If you did, please let me know, and by all means, post a picture (either here, or over on the Flickr page- or BOTH! =oD )!

Thanks for stopping by!  ...Monday's are getting SO much more fun and inspirational, aren't they?!?  ...Stick around, and check back for more fun! =))

Until next time...

May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]

Welcome to Symphonic Saturday!! =)

"Great music is that which penetrates the ear with facility and leaves the memory with difficulty.  Magical music never leaves the memory." ~Sir Thomas Beecham

Today is Saturday, and here at Beholden To None, that means it's Symphonic Saturday!! =))

Each week, I'll be posting a little musical inspiration.  

Today, after spending the day with my Lil'Sis, soaking up many forms of holiday spirit and cheer, I am going to kick off the inaugural weekly melodic inspirational post with one of my very favorites this time of year: "Baby, It's Cold Outside!" =)  This version by Zooey Deshanel and Leon Redbone is probably my favorite version of this adorable ballad...

I am officially ready for the holiday season now... Bring it on!! =oD  It's gonna be epic...

 So I'm curious:

• What music do you listen to to get inspired??

• What songs stay with you~ really live you inside?? 

• ...And what are your holiday favorites??  =) 

***HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!! =oD***

 
May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]  

One of MY Favorite Things: Mod Podge Sparkle

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

~Scott Adams

If you were with me on Tuesday, you know that this week there's been a bit of a shift in things here at Beholden To None because I came across something simply awesome~ and just had to share it! =))  ...And if you were here, THANK YOU for reading, sharing, and participating!

Originally, here at Beholden To None, Tuesday was Thursday and Thursday was Tuesday (shades of the beloved Dr. Suess,, isn't it?! ;])... But today IS Thursday, and now Thursday's are set aside for a hodge-podge of good craft related fun complete with a revolving array of artist features, interviews, critiques, craft fair venturings, giveaways and contests, and reviews... So today, I am going to write the article I started writing for Tuesday: a product review of one of my new favorite things! =)

I just HAD to publicly express my utter passion for something I found, quite serendipitously...

This adventure begins with an integral part of my craft and art supplies arsenal: Mod Podge... Who doesn't L.O.V.E. Mod Podge, right?!?! =oD  I personally use it for SO many things, and it IS a critical ingredient in the items in my AmrcnWldFlwr Etsy Shop, and I am finding new projects and new ways to use it nearly every day...

YES, I might be just a little addicted to Mod Podge 

"Hello, My name is StacyLynn...." ;oP

 Recently, while standing in the aisle in Michael's [anybody else spend WAY too much _____ there?!?!], I was educating myself on the plethora of different color label's in the Mod Podge line...

Mod Podge CS11240 Starter Pack, Set of 2-Ounce Bottles

Some of the many 'shades' of Mod Podge

I discovered that they now have a product that shimmers with all that glitters: Mod Podge Sparkle!! =oD

Ladies and gentlemen, my new passion...

Mod Podge Sparkle- by Plaid

Okay, can just say right now that I definitely have an ongoing (tasteful ;oP) relationship with glitter- in all forms- but especially glitter glue! =)  I adore it.  It helps make pretty things prettier (although, admittedly, it can make things tacky or trashy, or unruly, depending on your propensity ;oP heeheeh), and I couldn't possibly do what I do without it. =)  I do, however, think that it is a fine line you walk, for sure, when glitter gets involved with anything... But I think I do all right~ What do you think??

 

But now, thanks to Mod Podge Sparkle, my mind is officially blown- and my love affair with Mod Podge continues...  And if I thought it couldn't get better, it has certainly deepened to a whole new level!! =oD  

Standing in the aisle at Michael's, I was intrigued (to say the least!), so I bought a small 2 FL OZ bottle, just to test it out... HOLY KAUW!!  I totally should have invested in the hefty 16 FL OZ bottle (and will), because I can't. stop. using. it. ...Literally: CAN'T. STOP. ;oP  (Is that bad??!)  I am constantly creating new projects so I *can* use it! ...And for some things, it's simply the perfect finishing touch~ giving just the right affect...

I can't say that it replaces the original Mod Podge formula- by any stretch of the imagination.  But when you need "just a little something" to make your creation "complete" (is any work of art ever REALLY done?!? ;oP) , "Sparkle" just might do the trick for you.  I know it has absolutely been a wonderful addition to my crafting and art fun!! =)  THANK YOU Mod Podge!! =oD

What are some reasons YOU love Mod Podge?? =) 

Until next time...
May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]  

Wordless Wednesday, 112812

“On Wednesday, when the sky is blue,
and I have nothing else to do,
I sometimes wonder if it's true
That who is what and what is who."
~Winnie-the-Pooh~       ~A.A. Milne

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday! =)  I hope you're having a wonderful middle of the week...

Today's pictures probably won't need any commentary~ you might even recognize your humble abode in them ;) ~ but my roommates and  I are in total agreement: a craft store threw up in our house! heeheeh ...But BOY, are we having FUN!! =oD  

 Check it out...

And that doesn't *even* count all the LEGOs downstairs!! ;oP 

What's your Wordless Wednesday look like?? =)  

Join in the fun: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beholdentonone/

May your imagination light your way,
~xo~ StacyLynn a.k.a AllAmrcnWldFlwr [Flower]