.:Banarsi Designs:.

Since we moved into our new home, I have been on the lookout for unique and new items to decorate our house with. I don’t know what it is about moving into a new home, but I haven’t really wanted to transfer over a lot of what we were previously using. (Yes, it is driving my husband crazy, but that’s another story).

Banarsi Designs is a newer site that specializes in Indian décor. Being a crafty and DIY gal myself, I really appreciate that a lot of the items featured on Banarsi Designs are hand crafted. We’ve all gotta support each other, right?

We have never had nice throw pillows on our couches. I know, kind of weird. But I’m thinking I could find the perfect covers from Banarsi Designs. I’m liking this creamy silver cover.

In our old house, our kitchen table was always about half covered with my things. I would have my sewing machine and fabric out, or my tub of paints and brushes, or my CAMEO and vinyl. Basically, we left small spaces for our girls to eat at, but the rest would get cluttered with whatever we were using. Now I have a lovely basement. With lots of lovely space for storing my things. Which means that our kitchen table doesn’t have to be cluttered anymore! I can have out nice centerpieces, or use nice linens for decorating and for guests. I love it! So that means that I might need to invest in some new items for my decorating and entertaining. This oriental table runner would match the aqua tones I’ve used in my kitchen perfectly!

Place mats are a must with our table. It has grooves in it (what were we thinking??) so any crumbs or food can get easily stuck in the grooves, and it is not as easy to clean. This mystic crystal set would really pop against my black table.

All of the items on Banarsi Designs come in multiple color options, so you’re sure to find something to match your home, or make the perfect custom gift for someone else!

Check out Banarsi Designs and see what they can offer you!

** I was compensated for writing this post, but the thoughts and opinions are my own!

.:Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop Holiday Tour:.

I am a pattern-a-holic. Seriously. I love getting new patterns and just get thrilled every time that my pattern folder on my computer grows. Satisfying, yes?

 

So, when Amy of Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop was looking for bloggers for her Holiday Tour, I jumped at the chance!

And this time, I decided to try something different than what I would normally choose: pajamas!

 

The Winter PJ’s to be exact.

 

Knits are something I’ve always been a bit afraid of, but that I want to get better at sewing with. This gave me the perfect opportunity to get more comfortable with knits!

 

Amy’s pattern was so well written, and included lots of instructional pictures. She also included lots of helpful tips for sewing with knits, and was sure to include directions for people with and without sergers. I appreciated the differentiation!

 

What do you think of my sweet girls in their new jammies?

 

Perfect for watching holiday movies and eating some sweets by the glow of the Christmas tree, right?

 

Well, if you are thinking you might like to try to whip up some pj’s, or any of Amy’s other patterns, you’re in luck! Amy is generously giving away this pattern for the Winter PJ’s, along with all of the other patterns in the tour to one lucky winner!

 

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

 

And if there are any patterns you just have to have, use the code hohoho to get 25% off! The code is good through December 8th!

Check out the other fantastic blogs in the tour!

 

Monday:

The Sewing Loft

If Only They Would Nap

Nap Time Crafters

Tuesday:

Sew Country Chick

Sewing Mama RaeAnna

Wednesday:

sewVery

Melly Sews

Caila Made

Thursday:

Sew a Straight Line

Alida Makes

Friday:

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Girl.Inspired

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.:Giveaway Winners:.

Ah! I totally forgot to announce the winners of the Downtown Tape and Coton Colors giveaway. 

I'll blame it on all of us being sick this week. Putting pink eye eyedrops in a one year old's eyes is not fun, just so you know. 

Anyway, check out the Rafflecopter widgets below to see if you won either giveaway!

Email me at sumossweetstuff@gmail.com to claim your prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.:Holidays and Duck® Brand:.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand® for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

There's something about packaging that gets me every time. I think that packaging can make the difference between whether I buy something or not. And let's get real, if you are going to be in some sort of white elephant gift exchange this holiday season, wouldn't you want a gift that is packaged up nicely? 

 

Luckily Duck® Brand is here to help! Duck® Brand has been around for 20 years, offering creative and innovative solutions to your packaging, as well many other areas in your household!

 

Duck® Brandoffers a variety of prints of their Duck Tape®, so there is something for everyone! Duck Tape® even comes in holiday prints!

 

I think it would be a lot of fun to use the candy cane print in my wrapping. It's a fun pattern, and it's super festive!

 

I also really love this holiday dot print. It would be great for wrapping, but I bet you could create some festive gift card holders using this!

 

 

Duck Tape® also comes in these fun gingerbread man, snowflake, and ornament prints. I think my girls would have a great time with some pre-cut out shapes to use a stickers. They could create some fun holiday art!

 

                                        

 

If you're mailing packages to family and friends that you won't be able to spend the holidays with, you'll love the holiday prints for your packaging! Who wouldn't want to get a package in the mail with some fun patterns and designs? These peppermint candies and snowflakes would really dress up your mail!

 

 

Be sure to follow along with Duck® Brand on Facebook for updates and ideas!

 

What would you create using Duck Tape®?

.:Call for Contributors:.

That’s right!

Sumo’s Sweet Stuff is looking for contributors!

Here are the details:

I’m looking for a contributor in each of these four areas.

A contributor is not the same as a guest post. A contributor is a monthly feature. I am looking for people who are interested in committing for three months (and hopefully more).

If chosen, you would be asked to contribute one post per month of original content. These posts would take place the Thursday of each week. I would need your post to me at least three days before the day your post is to go live. I’m looking for committed, responsible people to fill these spots!

I have to be upfront and tell you that this is not a paid gig! The only thing I can offer you is exposure on my site, with amplifications of your posts in each of my various social media outlets. I would also have a contributor page on my blog with your picture and a short bio.

If you think you might be interested in this, please email me at sumossweetstuff@gmail.com, titled “Contributor” with the following information:

Name

Blog

Area you are interest in contributing to

Link to a blog post that shows an example of your work

A brief paragraph explaining why you think you are perfect for the job!

I’ll need all emails to me no later than December 8th. That will give me time to read through them and decide who will be the best fit for Sumo’s Sweet Stuff. The three month commitment would begin in January.

I am super excited to read through your emails! Please just be understanding that I can’t choose everyone, no matter how much I’d like to! I so appreciate you taking time to email me!

.:Tutorial Tuesday - Christmas Wreath on the Cheap:.

It’s about time to start decorating for Christmas (if you haven’t already!) so I thought I’d share an easy Christmas wreath that you can make for cheap! Our Christmas wreath is about done for after weathering a few winters and our move, so I was in the market for a new one.

I bought all of the supplies for this wreath either at the dollar store, or in the dollar sections at Target and Michael’s. I was actually really impressed with the selection at Dollar Tree!

Here’s what I used:

- foam wreath (with a flat back)

- glitter monogram

- glitter mini ornaments

- ribbon

- glitter pinecones

- glitter bows

- large glitter bow

- hot glue/gun

I started off by wrapping my wreath with ribbon, securing it with hot glue at the beginning and end.

Next I hot glued the monogram to the back of the wreath so that it would hang in the center of the wreath.

Since the bow was so huge, I didn’t want to put it at the top of the wreath because then it would totally cover the whole thing. So I glued it to the bottom of the wreath, and then started gluing my accents how I wanted them. This is how it turned out:

Pretty easy, I know. Probably doesn’t warrant ‘tutorial’ status, does it?

It probably took me only about a half hour to make. Great results for such a short amount of work, don't you think? And I really love how it looks on my black door.

Happy wreath making!

.:Review & Giveaway–Cricut Mini:.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to visit the Cricut headquarters for an intimate blogging event.

I came away excited, full of ideas, oh, and also with a Cricut Mini in hand.

It’s okay to be jealous.

I had just the project in mind for my new toy. Our new house has a long skinny window right by our front door, which offers anyone who comes a-knockin’ a lovely peek into our new abode. I’ve seen the faux frosted windows online before, made using Contact paper, so I figured that would be a good fix to toning down on the view inside.

You like?

At the blogger night, the good people from Cricut showed us their new manuals. Seriously. Doesn’t that alone make you want a Cricut Mini?

There’s something about nice, creative packaging that gets me every.single.time.

The instructions are super clear and easy to follow, and Cricut even includes the materials for you to complete your first project right away – a thank you tag! Score!

So after breaking out my machine, I took a look at that super clear, super open window.

I measured how many inches wide it is.

The window is about six inches wide, so I needed to make my design six inches wide.

I downloaded Cricut Craft Room and opened up the program.

I went to the Cricut Elegant cartridge and chose this shape. I dragged it up to the work space. I sized it to about 2” x 2”.

 

Then I copied the shape, and dragged it next to my first shape. When the edges touch, a little window pops up and asks if you want to weld the shapes together.

I made a row of three, welded together.

Then I copied and pasted that the length of my work space; I was able to fit five on the page.

Next I cut a piece of contact paper the size of the cutting mat. I put it on the mat with the paper backing side down.

Then I clicked ‘cut’ in the software. A window pops up and you choose what type of medium you are working with (I chose vinyl for the contact paper) and it tells you what to set your blade and pressure at.

I love that you can change those settings without having to remove the blade!

Once it was cut, I peeled off the design and started placing it on the window.

I just continued down, placing them by hand.

It’s certainly not perfect, but I don’t think you can really tell that much.

I love it!

And the view from the outside.

I think it looks pretty awesome! And I love that I can take it off and do a new design if I ever want to!

Well, I’m about to make someone’s day.

Cricut wants to give one of YOU a Cricut Mini!

That’s huge, right??

Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter!

** Disclaimer: I was provided with a Cricut Mini, but was in no way obligated to gush about it on my blog. I just had to because I really think it's great!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

.:Market Yourself Monday–Christmas Wreath:.

Happy Sunday!

And Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

I have not been online much over the weekend, and I hope you haven’t either! It’s been a wonderful weekend filled with friends, family, and shopping!

It was a great time to reflect on everything I’m grateful for. Really, I am truly blessed beyond belief in so many ways, but I want you to know that I appreciate every single one of you who reads my blog! I love interacting with you, and you have helped me to meet people and do things that I never would have without this little blog, so thank you!

Now, I could go on and on about all the yummy food I ate, how I went Black Friday shopping for the first time (and loved it!) but it is actually time for me to go decorate our Christmas tree (is yours up??) so I’m going to get right to things this evening!

This week I’ll be sharing this wreath with you.

Does it get you in the holiday spirit? It totally does for me! Plus, it was super cheap to make.

Now, before we get to the party, I’m just going to assume there wasn’t very much link visiting because of the holiday. I am okay with that. But I fully expect to see more spreading of the love this week, mmmkay?

The most viewed from last week’s party was:

Christmas Home Tour

Don’t forget to check back here tomorrow for an AWESOME giveaway!

(I hope you don’t mind all of the giveaways lately; people are just being so generous and want to share with you; how can I say no to that?)

Get your link on!

.:Silhouette Software Winner & Promo:.

Happy Black Friday! I hope you are all enjoying your day, whatever you are doing! 

I went Black Friday shopping last nite, so it's a jammie day at our house. Hopefully later it will be a put up the Christmas decorations day. 

First of all, the giveaway winner of the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software is:

Cindy

Email me at sumossweetstuff@gmail.com to claim your prize!

And don't forget to take advantage of the sweet deals Silhouette is offering this weekend!

See this post to learn more about the promos.

Use the code SUMO!

Happy Shopping!

.:Silhouette Promo & Black Friday Sale:.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday!

I’ve got a little tutorial to share with you today (mid-week, I know!) but if you’re just here for the Silhouette promotions (I don’t blame you) then here are the details first:

Use the code SUMO to take advantage of these fantastic promotions!

Now, I had the opportunity to do some holiday creating with some Silhouette vinyl. Because Christmas starts pretty much as soon as I’m done cleaning up Thanksgiving dinner. (The Christmas music starts much earlier, but we won’t get into that right now). I love decorating and feeling the spirit of Christmas, and I can’t wait to get my house transformed!

This year I’ll be adding this beauty to my holiday decorating.

Yes, I love Santa and the gift giving and the magic of Christmas for my kids, but I also want to start teaching them now what we believe is the true reason for this wonderful season.

The inspiration came from this post from Growing Up Gardner. I made my sign differently and used vinyl instead of paint, so I’m going to show you how I made mine today! (Don’t you just love her beautiful decorating??)

Here’s what you need:

- cedar planks (bought at Lowe’s and cut there)

- stain (love this white washed one, also from Lowe’s!)

- vinyl

- Lucy (CAMEO)

- transfer tape

- sand paper

- paint brushes

- staple gun/stapes

Start off by sanding, and then staining your wood. I didn’t wipe any stain off; I just left it as is and love the color of this stain.

Lovely, isn’t it?

While your boards are drying, you’ll want to get into your Silhouette software and create the text for your vinyl. Measure your board space, and create your text accordingly. I also used a few different fonts, which I love doing!

Once your boards are dry, go ahead and staple those babies together. On the back side, I did lots of staples so that the boards weren’t too ‘hingy’. On the front, I only did staples at the edges of each row.

Cut your vinyl and apply transfer tape over your text. Lay it out to figure out your placement.

Adhere your vinyl to your boards. Make sure they are very dried off, and very brushed off or your vinyl will have trouble sticking. Trust me, I know. But doesn’t it look so good??

Proudly display it to remind yourself and your family the reason for the season!

9

Of course, you can create a custom sign to fit whatever you want! And you can do that with a little help from Silhouette this Black Friday!

How does 40% off sound? Yeah, I thought it sounded pretty amazing myself. It’s a great time to try out products you’ve been wanting to get your hands on, as well as stock up on the basics like your blades and cutting mats!

Visit Silhouette and use the code SUMO.

(Discount does not include CAMEO, Portrait, downloads, download cards, subscriptions, and gift cards).

You can also snag yourself a CAMEO and the Studio Designer Edition Software for just $229.99! What a great deal! I’m sure you’re on the nice list this year, and totally deserve it early.

Go here and use the code SUMO.

If you’re looking to spend a little less, then the Silhouette Portrait might be for you! It’s just a bit smaller, lighter, but functions like a CAMEO. Only $179.99!

Go here and use the code SUMO.

All of these promotions are good through November 30th!

Happy Shopping!!!