Our third craft exchange

Earlier this year, I asked a group of wildly creative people if they’d like to get together for a craft exchange a few times a year. The premise is we each handmade a gift for the others in our group, not telling anyone what it is until the big reveal on “Craftmas.”

In our February exchange, we had 8 crafters. The next round in June we had 18! This time in October,  we had 16 amazing crafters exchanging their handmade gifts. I can’t tell you how much fun it is! And it’s not just our local crafty masters, we use video conferencing technology from our sponsor Peak Westron so that our friends in Wisconsin, Ohio, and New York participate in the live reveal as well.

Check out these incredible projects! They’re inspiration for holiday gifts for sure!

Forgive my bad photography. I need to have someone (shout out Jeanan who is joining us next time and doesn’t know it yet) dedicated to taking photos and not rely on me with my iPhone!

Carole: Christmas Planner

This adorable planner has a pocket for receipts, and sections for cards, gifts, recipes, to-do’s and even a bucket list. With one week less time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, this will come in handy to keep me organized for sure!

Debbie: Fabric ornament

I still don’t know how she didn’t use glue and got those corners so perfect. Can’t you imagine a whole tree of these?

And for those who don’t celebrate Christmas, Debbie made these equally jaw-dropping acorns.

Sevi: Fall poupouri jar

I love pine cones but it’s hard to keep them from getting crunched when they’re not on display. This is such a great idea to protect them and show off their natural beauty.

Here’s a photo of all of them together. Aren’t those knobs just yummy?

Bianca: Personalized holiday platter

How awesome is it to have a plate with your name on it? And now I know it will be returned from the holiday pot-lucks!

Scott (yes we have a guy in our group. Not one, but two!): Hand-carved toothpick dispenser

Okay, ridiculously talented Scott continues to surprise us. This time he made hand-carved toothpick dispensers that work like magic.

Which makes us all make this face because we can’t even begin to wrap our brains around how to make this. Can’t you just hear how this went –  Aaron to Scott: You seriously made this? Johanna: Whaaaa? LOLOLOLOL….

Johanna: wrapped charm bracelets

This girl loves me some jewelry. I was pretty excited to pull these beauties out of the bag. And straight on my wrist.

Aaron: Spicy garlic pickles

Those are three words together that I’ll never get tired of. Spicy. Garlic. Pickles. Get in my belly! And I love the funny tag.

Melia: Ornament hangers

Does it really have to be time to decorate the tree already? I haven’t even gotten my boxes unpacked. Sigh. At least I have these cute ornament hangers to put on the tree even if I can’t find anything else in the mess that is my garage. Oh… and a fabulous new fabric ornament to match.

For those not celebrating Christmas, Melia made these adorable wine charms.

Dorie: Glow in the dark snow globes

How presh are these glow in the dark snow globes? And it says, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Jar” on it. It was confiscated immediately by the Princess Cupcake. Sorry this is not the best photo, it really is cute with a capital C.

Sarah: Homemade biscuit kit with jam from grapes grown on her farm

Martha in the making. I swear. But I’ll take it any day! Sarah does good jam.

Abby: Coffee cozies

You know there’s nothing I like better this time of year than a pumpkin spice latte or an egg nog latte, extra hot. Here’s how I’m going to protect my hands!

Meranda: State string art

So everyone was pretty much speechless when they opened Meranda’s package. She made these gorgeous string art states on wood in the colors we like to decorate in. Mine is Texas:

She also made Wisconsin, New York and Ohio. Here’s New York.

DeMia: Stamped wooded boxes

This gorgeous box is going to hold my pretty bracelets from Johanna and a few of my treasured necklaces. Isn’t it gorgeous? She stained them and then burned the design into them. I’d set my house on fire.

Sabrina: Boo subway frames

You know how I love my countdown calendar that Sabrina made last exchange, right? Well, check out this Halloween frame she made this time. Soooo stinkin’ cute!

Summer: Halloween oven towels (that won’t slip off!)

And since we’re talking Halloween…. Summer made these adorable kitchen towels that won’t slip off your oven.

Here it is in action at DeMia’s house.

And lastly my project. Frank and his pumpkin. Yes, I sewed clothes for him. Because I was avoiding packing my house to move.

I think you’ll agree that these are some incredible projects – many of them were Pinterest inspired and that’s why I’m extra excited about the Pinterest event this Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Michaels stores to get ready for the holidays. There will be Pinterest inspired displays, supplies available for purchase, and classrooms ready for you to create your own pin-worthy projects. I’ll be at the Michaels Store in Frisco during the event. Come by and get inspired! #JustAddMichaels