Monthly Faves : November

• A wonderfully thorough and helpful look into Jamie Ridler's process of business planning for the coming year -- I love her techniques.
• I bet all of us bloggers can identify with this: How Blogging Became my Boyfriend. Hilarious.
• Some beautiful entries in the National Geographic Photography Contest 2011.
• Ali has offered up some wonderful tips for December Daily albums {and some techniques can be used year round}. Related: extensive tips from another scrapper on making Project Life work for you.
• Honest, real-life blog tips from Joy the Baker. Also great: Etsy tips from Sadie Designs.
• Interesting-- thoughts on the phenomenon of 20-something women burning out at work.
• Parks & Rec fans, this is good for a giggle: Obama is the New Knope.
• Useful tips for avoiding the winter blues.
• August Empress' roundup of gift guides is definitely useful as I finish up my Christmas shopping.


• I'm enjoying Holstee's popular manifesto put into motion, featuring bikers and cyclists.
• Watch this stunning time-lapse of the Earth from space for a wee dose of perspective. It's so beautiful it looks fake! 
• Wool and the Gang has some of the best knitting tutorial videos I've seen, and the girl's accent in the videos is darling.
• This Faber Castell ad features an artist who makes portraits by drawing a continuous spiral and varying the thickness of the lines. Madness!


• As someone who seems to get a boost of productivity every time it rains, I'm digging Rainy Mood as a backdrop while I work.
• Just in case you need *one more* endorsement to convince you, I will agree with the rest of the internet and say that Florence + The Machine's new album Ceremonials is perfection {link to iTunes}.
• Pandora's Indie Holiday station is pretty much my favorite as of late.


• How about scrapbooked nails? It looks cooler than it sounds :)
• Make a box advent calendar with this {free!} printable from Oh Happy Day
• If December Daily isn't your thing, how about the 100 Days of Winter photo challenge?
• Knit a pair of photographer's mittens that have a finger hole for pressing the shutter. So smart!
• To normal people, this is just a great recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers, but for "Friends" nerds, this is epic: Turkey sandwich with a Moist Maker!! "Did you confuse it with your own turkey sandwich with the Moist Maker?" 
• Love these Kate Spade Kindle covers {but I plan on buying my Kindle cover from Etsy--more affordable AND handmade!}
• This giant doily rug is so gorgeous. I'd love to try and crochet something like this.

Monthly Faves is a series featuring my favorite links and bits around the interwebs. 

Do you like my Monthly Faves posts? Then make sure you follow me on Twitter! I've found that I end up with more links than I can possibly share each month, so I'm going to be regularly Tweeting some of the extra finds that don't end up in my Monthly Faves posts.

Gift Guide : For the Kids

I've already mentioned how much I dislike the cheap plastic-y stuff that dominates children's toy aisles. With a little searching, it wasn't too hard at all to find some more earth-friendly and creative gifts for kiddos.

1. Make My Own Monster Custom Stuffed Toy {created from your child's own drawings}, $249
2. City Mini Wood Blocks from Fidoodle, $28
3. Modern Art Memory Game from Ammo Books, $16.95
4. Personalized Toy Camera from Little Sapling Toys, $34
5. Wildflower Seed Bombs from Uncommon Goods, $14
6. Everything Goes On Land by Brian Biggs, $14.99
7. Repurposed Sweater Animal Hats from Uncommon Goods, $35

What are you buying the kiddies on your list?

Gift Guide : Gift Boxes

I've noticed an explosion of gift boxes and gift subscriptions over the past year or so. These aren't your average Clark Griswold rage-inducing "Jelly of the Month" clubs. These specific curated collections are awesome options to gift to people who likes to sample a variety of high-end and artisan products. As someone who loves walking around Whole Foods for the freebie samples, I'd love to get any of these treats in the mail each month.

1. Birchbox Beauty Sample Boxes, $10 per month
2. Mailbox Monthly Letterpress Sampler from Satsuma Press, $48 for 3 months
3. 24 Days of Tea from DavidsTea, $34.50 {also check out Teavana's Tea of the Month Club}
4. Fur Ivy Surprise Packages for Pets, $18-24 per month {also check out Fair Ivy for boxes for men, women and teens}
5. Turntable Kitchen Music and Recipes Pairing Box, $27 per month
6. Blackbox Dessert Club, $45-85 each {also check out Foodzie for other gourmet foodie boxes and "Tasting Experiences"}

{P.S. -- Charities sometimes sell holiday baskets to raise money for their organization. I found an awesome gift basket being offered by the local animal shelter full of wine, olive oil, vinegar, chocolate treats and popcorn-- and all of the items in the box come from local businesses right here in my town. I love that I can gift people with local goodies while helping a charity! It's definitely something worth looking into if there's a cause that you care a lot about.}

Gift Guide : For the Gals

I confess that this gift guide should probably be labeled "Gift Guide : For Caiti," as this is pretty much my own personal wish list-- a little bit of natural/earthy, yogi style with a creative twist. But I think there are still some great ideas and shops to check out for your own moms, aunts and lady friends! Who doesn't like a good candle and pretty scarves? :)

For the gals:

1. Turquoise Ocean Mala Beads by Tiny Devotions, $108
2. Silver Holiday Winter Classics from Toms, $54
3. Book (Wine) Club Bag from The Joy of Ex Foundation, £9.75
4. Magnolia and Rosewood Soy Candle from Sydney Hale Co., $26
5. Spare Stripe Mug from Terrain, $24
6. Desert Print Scarf from Terrain, $40
7. Food with Thought Print - 11x16" from Wall Blank, $16
8. Wrapped and Ready Watch from Sundance Catalog, $98
9. Desire to Inspire: Using Creative Passion to Transform the World by Christine Mason Miller, $16.49
10. Organic Vegan Soap Samples from Prunella Soap, $16

What's on your wish list this year?

Gift Guide : For the Guys

In case DIY gifts aren't your cup of tea, I whipped up a few gift guides to share with you this week to help with your holiday shopping. I've collected a few unique items from Etsy sellers and other small and independent business/websites that vary from stocking stuffers up to That One Big Gift. I'll share one more gift guide today and two tomorrow. Happy shopping!

For the guys:

1. Beer Making Kit - Gingerbread Ale from Brooklyn Brewshop, $40
2. Plugbug Dual Charger from Twelve South, $35
3. Chocolate Butterscotch Graham Cracker Layered Cookie Bars from Whimsy & Spice, $9
4. Steve Jobs T-shirt from Homage, $28 {100% of proceeds go to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network}
5. The Big Lebowski Pencil Set from One Up Designs, $6
6. 33 Bottles of Beer and 33 Bottles of Wine Journals from 33 Books Co., $4 each
7. Gourmet BBQ Spice Blend Kit from Purpose Design, $12

{And, P.S. -- while I *always* want to support independent artists and crafters as much as possible, let's also not forget about our local small businesses that could use our support this season. While these specific gifts I'm featuring are available online, many independent (non-chain store) shops in our own cities have wonderful selections of items for gifting. And it's great to keep our dollars within the community, since money spent at local businesses returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. For more information about this, visit The 3/50 Project and Small Business Saturday.}

Any other good suggestions for dude gifts? Share them in the comments!

Listed // Thanksgiving

{Life is Beautiful Print by magalerie}

List 06 // I'm thankful for...

01. A husband that makes me laugh everyday and gives the world's best hugs.
02. A comfortable, warm home in a lovely little town.
03. Living in a world where people feel compelled to make music, create art, move their bodies, and spill words on a page.
04. Friends and family, near and far, who always make me feel welcomed and loved.
05. Health insurance.
06. The blog community and the friendships that have been formed through it.
07. Tea, books, blankets, Netflix, craft supplies, Parks & Rec, Modern Family, my iPod, and new magazines.
08. Moments of peace and quiet, internally and externally.
09. Opportunities for new beginnings.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

Well Said : Brave Girls Club

{via Brave Girls Club}

Seems like this quote was just *made* for my blog, so I had to share ;)

Dreaming of a Nordic Holiday

In college, I spent just over two weeks traveling through Europe as a part of a study abroad session during winter break, just after the New Year. We traveled through Paris, Brussels, Vienna, and a few cities in Germany, my favorite of which was Heidelberg. I fell in love with the gorgeous German homes dusted white on one side of the Neckar River, and the quaint city {and castle!} on the other. Flurries sparkling overhead. Bundling up to stroll down the brick-lined streets through town, ducking into shops to warm my nose and toes. The glow of tiny restaurants and pubs at dusk. Beer steins and crackling fireplaces.

Experiencing a small piece of winter in Europe planted a seed in my brain that has been growing ever since: I want to spend Christmas in another country-- perhaps somewhere else in Germany, the Netherlands, or one of the Scandinavian countries. Part of me might admittedly dream of this fantasy because I'd like to escape from the stress and jam-packed holiday calendar of my Decembers at home, but the other part of me truly thinks that a quaint, cozy, and quiet Christmas spent in a cottage in the snow-covered countryside sounds perfect and picturesque in its own right. If it's a good day, I imagine my whole family there with me. If not, it's just me and a pile of books, blankets and hot tea ;)

Perhaps this fantasy is why I'm drawn to all things Nordic and Scandinavian print lately. Here are my favorite picks from around the web. Until I can manage to scheme up a Christmas away, I'll have to settle for a pair of Mukluk slipper boots or any of these items: 1. Oversized Fair Isle Sweater from JCrew // 2. Striped Snow Patterned Elastic Trousers via Wanelo // 3. Snowflake Wool Mittens from Elde // 4. Stud Post Earrings in Midnight from WildWomanJewelry.

PS - Here's a full Etsy treasury that I made over the weekend on this same theme called "My dear, let's have a Nordic Christmas." I think it's my favorite treasury that I've made yet!

Does anyone else share my fantasy a holiday escape? Where do your dreams take you?

Sadie Designs Giveaway ~ We Have a Winner!

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway! According to Random.org, Jadyn {#94} is the winner of the $30 gift certificate. Congratulations! Sarah will be in touch with you shortly with more information. I hope you enjoy your Sadie jewelry as much as I love mine :)

Foodie Friday : Venturing into the Land of Juicing

Orange Zing by Food Thinkers

A few weeks ago, I finally got around to watching the documentary "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead," about a dude with an autoimmune disease who heals his illness and loses weight by going on a juice cleanse. Fast-forward a few weeks and I'm ordering a juicer* and a book of 450 vegetable and fruit juice recipes.

{*I redeemed some credit card points for Amazon gift cards and ended up spending only $30 on the juicer and recipe book. Baller. I was proud of myself for that one.}

Even though I've been thinking about a juicer since around the time I read Crazy Sexy Diet earlier this year, I still feel like such a cliche -- I've heard dozens of similar stories from people who have viewed the documentary and have been affected by what they saw. Some stories sound overly optimistic, as if people think they've found the magic bullet for vibrant living in this one machine or hope to duplicate Joe's journey from the film. {Part of me wonders if Joe has stock investments in Breville...}

I have a bit of a more balanced perspective -- I know that juicing won't suddenly change my well-being, and I actually think that Joe's 60-day juice cleanse was awfully extreme because I know how important the fiber from fruits and vegetables is {which is removed in the juicing process}. I view juicing as just another tool in a healthy-living/whole foods regimen and a great way to get a high dose of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. I do not plan to partake in any sort of cleanse {edited to add: a cleanse might be a fine choice for someone else, but for my own wellness and health considerations that I don't need to divulge, I do not think it is a sound option}.

Besides, with my new Kitchenaid mixer tempting me to bake all sorts of yummy baked treats, I think this new gadget will help balance out the occasional indulgence. I also cannot promise that the fresh juice won't sometimes be used to concoct evening cocktails ;)

I'm excited to get my Amazon order and start experimenting with different juices, especially since receiving our final CSA box with an overload of fresh fruits (apples, cranberries, oranges, etc) and a few veggies (kale, carrots, etc). My favorite mix from the juice bar has been a carrot-apple-ginger-beet juice, so I'll definitely be replicating that one at home.

Have any of you tried juicing at home? Any recipes or other resources I must check out? I'd love to find a combination with celery that isn't BLECH awful *gag* overpowering.

Pssst, last chance to enter the Sadie Designs giveaway! I'll be drawing and announcing a winner later tonight.

Snapped Snippets : More Creative Projects

{The cutest wrapping paper from Michael's dollar bin and striped labels from Target // The knit head wrap/cowl that didn't turn out so cute -- it's just a little too wide due to my yarn choice // Foodie prints from a successful experiment running cardboard sheets through my printer // Invitations I designed for the Iron Chef dinner Party we're hosting, complete with silver scratch-off that reveals the secret ingredient to our guests // This is what it looks like when I think about doing December Daily // A Japanese hedgehog eraser named Oscar, who is my new desk buddy}

Snapped Snippets is a blog series in which I share bits and pieces of my creative life that I capture on camera.

Loving Lately : November Edition

Here's just a few of the things I'm swooning over these days. Think of it as a special mid-month "Monthly Faves" post with prettier photos :)

1. The idea of Black & Tan cookie bars topped with everyone's favorite bar snack seems pretty ingenious.
2. How fun would colored masking tape printed with your logo be?! I can think of dozens of applications...
3. My desire to buy a sewing machine was cemented when I saw this quilt, in that exact color scheme. Perfect.
4. Black & white living spaces seem so clean and fresh to me, and I love the pop of striped pillows and fun artwork in Lotta Agaton's living room.
5. This photobook by Nettio Designs is a great twist on Ali Edwards' "A Week In the Life" photo and journaling challenge. It might be my favorite example of AWITL that I've seen yet.
6. I'm in the midst of brainstorming how I want to wrap my holiday gifts this year {see last year's wrapping here}. Kraft paper, yellow and white is my current favorite.

And a bonus, in case you missed it yesterday: The Hunger Games movie trailer is out and HOLY, GOOSEBUMPS. I've been super nervous about how they're going to do the movie, and this trailer eased those worries for sure {even if I still wouldn't have cast Woody as Haymitch}.

Is there anything you've been loving lately?

PS- Have you entered the giveaway for a gift certificate to the Sadie Designs shop yet? The giveaway will be open until Friday!

Featured Artist Interview with Sadie Designs {and a Giveaway!}

Today I'm thrilled to feature an interview with one of my newest blog friends, Sarah of Sadie Designs! We connected after I blogged about my Sadie Designs necklace as a part of my Creative Tithing project this summer. I was honored that Sarah enjoyed the photos I took so much that she asked if she could use them in her Etsy shop. In exchange for the photos, Sarah has generously offered to do a giveaway hosted here on my blog! Plus, she kindly put up with all my questions about her jewelry business and creative life-- I think you'll really enjoy her interview. Be sure to read to the bottom of the post for the giveaway instructions! 

Hi, Sarah! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and Sadie Designs? 

My name is Sarah and Sadie Designs is my little handmade business. I currently stick to jewelry for the most part, but I've also made a few little sculptures and have recently gotten into hand-dyeing fabric and sewing. I love camping, hiking, walking my adopted dog, Lola, and riding my bike -- generally being outside. Sadie pieces are inspired by my travels and adventures. I use materials like quartz and wood to highlight the outdoors-y aesthetic that I love.

How did you get started making jewelry? 

I started making jewelry for Sadie nearly two years ago. Living in Vancouver and going to school for landscape architecture, I discovered that I had amazing access to beautiful materials and model making technologies. My first Sadie pieces were made from laser cut baltic birch. Now that I'm not in school I find I'm focusing more on pieces made of natural stone and metal.

I know you also work in landscape architecture, and I'm always interested in how people balance their creative lives. How do you manage both a day job and your jewelry business? 

It's not easy! In fact, I'd say that I haven't really found a balance yet. Since May I've been working a 9-5 type of job as a Landscape Architecture Intern and my commute is a little on the long side. I try to make jewelry whenever I have the energy to do it, go to the post office at least once a week to stay on top of orders, and I photograph new pieces whenever I get home in time to make use of natural light. The biggest thing is having a couple of excellent assistants, like my husband and mother. They run little errands here and there for me when I need them to and I am eternally grateful. I think you have to love what you do because otherwise you'll just end up being bitter about how busy you are.

Does your landscape/architecture background shape your jewelry designs?

It definitely does with my choice of materials and production techniques! I would never have started making laser cut jewelry without going to landscape architecture school. I think the fact that I use natural materials is also a good indication of why I chose landscape architecture instead of architecture. I love organic forms, rough edges, and rich materials palettes. I get to play with those elements in landscape architecture, too.

What are your inspirations in your designs? What is your design process like? 

I'll often have the raw materials for months before I figure out what to do with them. I often daydream about the materials that I have around and try to figure out what would make a unique piece that I would personally love to wear. Sometimes I'll find a vintage chain that practically tells me exactly what to do with is. On the flip side, I have lots of materials that I've yet to figure out. I don't get rid of any supplies because you never know when inspiration will strike! For the wooden pieces I make I draw them on paper before transferring them to the computer for future laser cutting. I'm not sure I could design starting with the computer. I find it a bit more rigid than hand drawings.

What else inspires your creativity? Could you name some of your favorite creative resources? 

My favourite creative resources are blogs. I'll find a photo that is really inspiring (colour, composition, texture) and then a new piece might be born. The images might be fashion related, but they could also be of a landscape or something totally unrelated to jewelry design. I also just love visiting supply shops to find inspiration and I always listen to music or podcasts like This American Life while I work.

What does the future look like for Sadie Designs? 

Busy, I hope! I'm preparing for several days of craft fairs this winter and have started to experiment with metalwork. While I was working on my master's degree I didn't have the time I wished I did to learn new techniques. Heading into the New Year I definitely want to broaden my jewelry design skills and start introducing some new materials into the Sadie line.

I know you hail from Vancouver, Canada, a place I dream about visiting someday.  Can you tell me a little bit about the creative community in Vancouver? 

Vancouver is still home to lots of artists, but it is so expensive to live here that a lot people have left or are leaving. My favourite expression of creativity in Vancouver has got to be back alley art and music shows. They don't seem to happen as often anymore, but they're awesome. You'll find out about one, learn that you have to go down a back alley to a blue door or something like that and when you step inside there'll be a ton of people hanging out, maybe bands playing, an art installation, or whatever people have come up with. We have a few big events celebrating creativity in the city, including the Eastside Culture Crawl and the Parade of Lost Souls. It's telling that a lot of these things happen in East Van.

Caiti's note: If any of you blog readers are in the Vancouver area, Sarah has a few shows coming up that are worth checking out so you can see her gorgeous jewelry in person!

Nov. 26-27, 2011 

Portobello West @ Creekside Community Recreation Centre

http://www.portobellowest.com/index.php?location=van&pageName=DesignersArtists&date=2011-11-26

Sun. Dec. 4, 2011

Got Craft? @ Royal Canadian Legion on Commercial Drive

http://gotcraft.com/vancouver

THE GIVEAWAY | Up for grabs is a $30 gift certificate to the Sadie shop-- the winner will get to pick *any* item from the shop that is $30 or below (free shipping included)! To enter, please visit the Sadie Designs shop on Etsy and comment with your favorite item. For up to three additional entries, you can: 1) Follow the Sadie Designs blog, 2) Tweet about the giveaway by mentioning @SadieDesigns1 and @CaitididDesigns, and/or 3) Blog about the giveaway... Just add a separate comment for each. A winner will be selected at the end of the day on Friday, November 18th.

Additionally, if you purchase any item from the Sadie shop this week, you can get a 15% discount with the code: MUSINGS11.

Thank you Sarah for the interview and the generous giveaway!!

A Break from Making

I have to admit, it's hard to put together DIY post after DIY post. To make time to create the project, to wait for it to dry in many cases, to photograph it, to write up a step-by-step tutorial, to design the header for the post and get it all uploaded and ready to go.

So I'm taking a break today. I had planned on showing two projects today-- a ombre painted glass ornament and a knitted headwrap/cowl. But, while it looks really pretty, the paint didn't dry properly on the ornament, and the headwrap is just a little bit cuter in the tutorial than in my own version. My first instinct was to get down on myself because I was falling short of my expectations and my promises to all you blog friends. I definitely got a little crabby and grumbly. When it got to the point where I snapped at my husband for the way he was eating his peanut butter toast last night {sorry, Marcus!} I realized that no blog post {or two} is worth that trouble. While commitment to a plan is a good thing, beating yourself up for unexpected detours is not a healthy way to go about it. As a way to be gentle on myself, I'm giving myself a day {or two or three!} off from my blog schedule. Because really, do y'all care whether I post a whole bunch of DIYs in one week versus spreading them out throughout November?!

Instead of stressing over my incomplete DIYs, I created a treasury this morning called Handmade Geometry. {Is it strange that I find treasury-making so relaxing?} As with almost every other treasury I've put together, I'm still on a kick with subdued, minimal color and natural elements. I love the way the hard geometric lines are softened by their hand-drawn and handmade qualities, and I love seeing the ways artists incorporate mathematical themes and patterns into their work.

Handmade Geometry by CaitididDesigns on Etsy

Featured: 1. Geometric Totes by PAWLING // 2. Raindrops Throw Pillow by leahduncan // 3. Origami Crane Sky Branches by Bunderful // 4. Geometry Print by Roominiscent // 5. Geometric Painting Necklace by courtneyoquist // 6. Abstract Geometric No. 3 by tokenandpine // 7. Vintage Black and White Photographs by TheOldRedHen // 8. Going Hunting Scarf by barkdecor // 9. Lines and Arrows Cushion Cover by bestillshop // 10. Ceramic Travel Mug by sewZinski // 11. Embroidery Hoop Art Triangle Pyramid by yinsteadofi // 12. Square Post Earrings by cartonBois // 13. Geometric Jewelry Tribal Necklace by TheWhirlwind // 14. Black Diamond Jotter by witandwhistle // 15. You Reap What You Sew No. 2 Hand Embroidery by MarysGranddaughter // 16. Himmeli No. 6 Modern White Mobile by AMRadio


"Everything one invents is true, you may be perfectly sure of that. Poetry is as precise as geometry." 
~ Gustave Flaubert

Make It! : Collaged Monogram

Remember my collection of vintage stamps that I uncovered in my craft stash recently? Well, I turned the green stamps into this monogram print which will eventually be a part of the travel-photo wall in my living room, where I have a vintage map of Chicago and several black and white photos from my various trips and vacations.

This is more of a "show" project than a "tell" project, for no other reason than it's super simple. Paste. Cut. Frame. Easy peasy.

There are tons of options for the collage based on your tastes and interests-- bits of scrapbook paper, fabric swatches, wrapping paper, etc. With some bright colors, you've got a great print for a baby's room, or use old book pages to make a gift for an avid reader. It's a simple project that makes a big impact!

Make It! : Snowman Kit

This is a fun gift that I put together for my two adorable nephews last Christmas. It's not so much a DIY as it is an assemblage of items, but I think we can still put it in the "DIY gift" category! I especially loved giving this to my nephews because they had recently moved to Iowa from Arizona, and hadn't yet had the joy of making many snowmen.

Supplies:
- Eyes and Mouth: A selection of rocks/pebbles, painted black with acrylic paint or spray paint
- Nose: A carrot from the floral section of Hobby Lobby or Michaels {I trimmed the green leafy part off the carrot and carefully folded down the ends of any exposed wires. Or, depending on the age of the kids, you could also insert a wood skewer or chopstick into the end of the carrot to make it easier for the kids to put the carrot in the snowman}
- Buttons
- Scarf: A strip of polar fleece {approximately 1/4 yard} with 4 inch cuts made at either end to create a fringe. We used a classic plaid as well as a blue and orange Illini scarf since my sister- and brother-in-law are University of Illinois grads living in Iowa Hawkeye territory!
- A top hat {ordered online for approximately $8-9}
- Four packets of hot cocoa and some candy canes {to warm up after snowman-building, of course}
- A box to put it all in. I bought a holiday photo storage box from Hobby Lobby for 50% off.
- Extra credit: A felt bag that says "Coal," which was a leftover stocking stuffer full of candy. We tossed the candy and re-purposed the bag to carry rocks for the eyes and mouth. I believe it had been purchased at Pier One Imports.
- Other possible items to include: Mittens {for the kids OR the snowman!}, eyeglasses, a faux pipe
- A label for the top of the of the box. Being the design nerd that I am, I created my label in InDesign and based it off of vintage signage. It reads: Happy Holidays / Hunter & Brendan's Snowman Kit / Comes complete with: Top hat, scarves, carrot (for nose), coal (for eyes and mouth), buttons (for buttons), hot chocolate (for drinking) / Fun Guaranteed / Snow Not Included. I printed the label on cardstock and adhered it to the box with a scrapbooking tape runner. If you aren't able to design a label on the computer, a hand drawn label or scrapbook letter stickers would also work just fine.

Time: 2 hours to shop for items, gather and paint the rocks and print or draw a label.

Cute and fun, yes? I think this would make a darling gift for new parents as well, so they can look forward to a family winter tradition with their babes once they're old enough.