Friday, September 10, 2010

stuff your stockings saturday - puzzle blocks

Welcome to the very first week of Stuff Your Stockings Saturday!



Every Saturday between now and Christmas, I hope to share a crafty handmade stocking option that you can make to stuff the stockings of your children, pets, friends, spouse, etc.  Many of the ideas that you will see featured in the first month were linked up over the past few months on my stocking stuffer share-along page.  Go check out all the ideas and you may find some stocking inspiration!


And I hope you will scroll down that stocking stuffer idea page and link up your own ideas as well.  I'm looking for more great ideas and tutorials to feature in the months of October, November and December!

And here's an added surprise for you! 

Not only do I hope that you will be inspired to make your own handmade stocking stuffers, but some of the guest bloggers on Stuff Your Stockings Saturday will also be giving one wonderful reader the chance to win a handmade version of the stocking stuffer being showcased for the week!  

What?  I know . . . you can make it AND you can win it!  So exciting!

To kick off our first Stuff Your Stockings Saturday, I want to introduce you to the wonderfully creative Camille from MotherLode.  Check out the sweet little giveaway we have in store for you today at the bottom of her post.


Hi everyone, and Elizabeth! First, I LOVE this blog!

Thank you so much for inviting me to guest post and share a stocking stuffer idea with your readers Elizabeth. I really enjoy making and giving handmade gifts, yet often feel overwhelmed by all of the ideas I want to make versus finding the time to tackle it all. Elizabeth, you make it look so easy, and fun, and your approach makes it feel oh-so-possible!

. . .But probably not this year. I am behind-beyond-the-point-of-ever-catching-up in pulling off a handmade holiday.  We had a baby last Christmas, and we are still trying to find our groove as a family of four. But, never fear - this blog has rubbed off on me enough to at least commit to filling our stockings with handmade gifts this year.

And I'm taking full advantage of the opportunity to share here by whipping up my first stocking stuffer idea - a set of storytime puzzle blocks for my almost-five-year-old daughter Delaney. 

Over Labor Day weekend while lingering under quilts and reading with my daughter I realized a subtle yet certain shift underway - she's gravitating toward longer chapter books with more complex themes and less pictures, which are slowly sliding into the nooks and crannies of our home reserved for our favorite books while her favorites for so long now, picture books, are slowly becoming buried... perhaps to be just as quickly forgotten as they were to become fast favorites? It doesn’t seem possible, considering how many times we’ve read them, over and over and over again. We even tried to hide them, to allow them to be enjoyed anew when they resurfaced - which seemed to happen rather quickly. 

With this awareness I knew one thing - I didn’t want either of us to forget these special books. I decided to make a set of storytime puzzle blocks from her all-time favorite books from the first five years of her life.  For now, these puzzle block will go in her stocking . . . but maybe when they lose their appeal, they will be tucked away for later - to give to her future children along with the actual books so they can share a part of their mom’s childhood.

So I started hunting through the shelves looking for the books I’d spent the last few years trying to hide. They weren’t too hard to locate - they were the well-worn ones, showing signs of love and loyalty and lots of lazy-day lingering. 

Those books, along with a whole slew I schlepped home from the thrift store recently, have led to my first stocking stuffer gift completed PLUS three more sets to give as gifts this Christmas. Oh, the victory!


I owe it all to the wonderful motivation I receive right here - it's just the nudge I needed to get the ball rolling. And to show my appreciation, I would like to offer a set of storybook puzzle blocks to one lovely twelve crafts till Christmas reader.

The thrift-store books were spilling off the shelves that day, a few even jumped into my cart unassisted, literally! It was hard to narrow it down, but I finally chose books in these three categories - vintage golden books, classic board books, and Christmas stories. 

And yesterday we had quite the storybook puzzle block making workshop underway here.


It took a long time to get everything scanned, printed, precision cut, mod podged, dried, top coat of mod podge, dry again, then ready for their big debut right here with a photoshoot bright and early with the morning sun.  Whew! A lot of work, but I just LOVE how they turned out! 

I have a tutorial on my blog Mother*Lode to make your own puzzle blocks. But if you're in a similar predicament as me - so many ideas, so little time, then wouldn't it be nice if you won a set and didn't have to make them yourself?

So try that first.

Enter the giveaway, think positive, cross your fingers, and see what happens. If that doesn't work . . . and unfortunately that will be the case for every single person who enters except the one lucky winner . . . then please do come on over and check out the tutorial. They really are super easy to make and the sweetest gifts ever.  Very well worth the time and effort!



And for the record . . . thanks to scanners and printers and trusty technology, no book was harmed in the making of this project. Because the books are all alive and well, I would love to send them along with the blocks if the winner isn't oppose to receiving used books as a gift. Most are in great shape. A few are not, but I was buying with the intention of cutting them up so wasn't as picky about condition. 

Are you ready for details about the selections available to choose from? I'll show a couple of pictures from each set, but I have so save a few surprises!


SET ONE: Vintage Little Golden Books
First up is a set of vintage Little Golden Books. These were my favorite growing up. Maybe that's because my twin sister and I often got a new one when we went to the store and were well behaved. So we had a lot of them. My mom still has them. I remember them all, and I love coming across them again.

1) The Three Bears illustrated by Feodor Rojankovsky
2) The Poky Little Puppy by Gustaf Tenggren
3) Richard Scarry's Chipmunk's ABC by Roberta Miller
4) The Shy Little Kitten by Cathleen Schurr
5) The Saggy Baggy Elephant by K. & B. Jackson
6) Winnie-the-Pooh and Tigger by A.A. Milne



SET TWO: Classic Children's Board Books
This set of classic children's board books would make a wonderful gift set for a baby!

1) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
2) The Mitten by Jan Brett
3) Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? by Dr. Seuss
4) Just In Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado
5) The Foolish Tortoise by Richard Buckley
6) The Eensy-Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman



SET THREE: Christmas Stories
Though harder to come by off-season, I was able to round up a handful of Christmas stories for this set of Christmas blocks. The selection is hodge podge with vintage, classic and contemporary all mixed in!

1) The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore
2) The Gingerbread Man illustrated by Karen Schmidt
3) Raggedy Ann and Andy Help Santa Claus by Polly Curren
4) The First Christmas, retold by Gaby Goldsack
5) Olive, the Other Reindeer by d. Otto Seibold
6) Christmas Mice by Bethany Roberts


And finally . . . for fun . . . and an extra entry into the giveaway - this tower of blocks represents my daughter's all time favorite stories from the first five years of her life. Can anyone name all six titles? 


Thanks so much Camille!  What a wonderful idea to stuff the stockings of the children in our lives!

Now, here's how you can win your own set made by Camille:
*Leave one comment for each entry.*
1)  Be or become a follower of twelve crafts.
2)  Be or become a follower of MotherLode.
3)  Link up an idea/stocking stuffer to the stocking stuffer idea page.
4)  Help promote Stuff Your Stockings Saturday by posting the button (code on sidebar) on your blog or on the stocking stuffer idea that you linked up.
5)  List all the books represented in the tower of puzzle blocks.  ;)

Giveaway will be open for entries until Friday, September 17, 2010 @ 11:59 PM (CST).

Craft on!

98 comments:

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

Oh these are so great!!! I love the blocks - these stories are so sweet. They were some of our favorites too. What a great idea! (I'm a twelve crafts follower :)

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

I'm a MotherLode follower too! She has the best ideas. :)

Mandy Beyeler said...

dedicated follower :)

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

I've linked up an idea to the stocking stuffer page! (um. a few.)

Mandy Beyeler said...

new motherlode follower - she has some cute stuff over there!

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

I'm adding the button to my sidebar!!Woohooo - 4 entries! Can't do 5 cause I don't recognize the books. :(

Mandy Beyeler said...

I just linked up a couple of ideas....

Jami Schoettler said...

I'm a follower of your blog. What a cute idea. I'm torn between the golden books one and the Christmas stories one...

snowsquirt86 at hotmail dot com

Corie said...

Ok, those look amazing. I really want to win this!

I'm a follower.

Corie said...

Button is on my blog!

Corie said...

Linked up my Book Safe tutorial to your stocking stuffer idea page.

Kim said...

Those look so cool!
I'm a follower!
kimprine1 @ yahoo.com

Kim said...

I'm a new follower of Mother*Lode
kimprine1 @ yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower!

Anonymous said...

new follower of Mother Lode!

CraftyMummy said...

Great start to your Stuff your Stockings Saturdays@!! I love this idea. I'm thinking the kids could help make these for friends over the holidays - we're up for 2 weeks off school in September. Off to check out the tutorial and become a follower ;)

Larri said...

Fabulous ideas! I'm a follower. Thanks so much for sharing. Happy Saturday! :o)
Larr at Seams Inspired

Annette W. said...

Very, very cool. I don't know if I can make my own right now, but I'd love to win a set!

Julie said...

I'll be putting the stocking stuffer button my blog.

Julie
vibrant-designs.blogspot.com

Jocelyn Christensen said...

This is an AWESOME IDEA! I love it! And I just so happen to have some blocks downstairs that need to turn into puzzle blocks!

Cheryl said...

I am a 12 crafts follower!

Cheryl said...

I am a follower of MotherLode!

Monika Wright | I Love It All said...

I'm a 12 Crafts follower...and this post made me smile and want to get out my Mod Podge!

Carol, The Answer Is Chocolate said...

What a brilliant idea!

Tanya said...

I'm a twelve crafts follower...super cute giveaway. Thanks!

Tanya said...

I'm a motherlode follower, too. Awesome idea!

Unknown said...

I love this idea! I'm a twelve crafts follower.

Unknown said...

Also a follower of MotherLode. Love it!

Unknown said...

I've got the button now!

Heather* said...

I follow you !

Heather* said...

I'm a follower of mother lode too

Nancy said...

Follower of 12 Crafts

Nancy said...

Follower of 12 Crafts

Nancy said...

Follower of Mother Lode

Julianna said...

Oh I love this! I am a follower of Twelve Crafts!

Julianna said...

Now a follower of Mother Lode!

Julianna said...

Now a follower of Mother Lode!

Amy@ServingPinkLemonade said...

I love this craft. I've linked up the the stocking stuffer idea page.

Whitney Drew said...

I'm a new follower to Twelve Crafts!

Whitney Drew said...

I'm a new follower of MotherLode!

VickiT said...

What a wonderful giveaway. I would love to win these for my Granddaughter. She would just love these.

That stack and my one guess since I don't recognize them is that the top one MIGHT be from one of the Fancy Nancy books. I could be wrong of course. lol I had 3 boys myself and they liked Power Rangers so that gives a hint on my age and that of my own children. LOL

VickiT said...

I am also a follower of Twelve Crafts via email notification.

melonbelly said...

I'm a loyal follower of Twelve Crafts Til Christmas!

melonbelly said...

Thanks for sharing MotherLode with us! I am so excited that I'm a new follower of her too! :)

Sonja said...

I'm a follower of Twelve Crafts, love this site.

Sonja said...

Follower of MotherLode, looks like a great site Thanks!

Sonja said...

Added a stuffer idea.

Sonja said...

I know have a button!

Sonja said...

Madaline
3 Bears
uhhhmmmmmm...............

Bellgirl said...

I'm a follower of twelve crafts!

Bellgirl said...

I'm a follwer of Mother-lode and love the tutorial!

Bellgirl said...

I've linked up my stocking-stuffer idea!

Bellgirl said...

...and the button's on my sidebar! www.bellgirl.com.au

Rhonda said...

I love it! I am a follower of MotherLode and cannot wait to try some of the ideas with my pre-schoolers.

Lise said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
medina family said...

I am a motherlode follower. She is amazing!

Lise said...

These are beautiful! I'd love to make some, but I'm afraid I'll never get to it. Hoping I'll win... (I'm a follower on MotherLode).

Lise said...

I've just become a follower of twelve crafts...looking forward to reading more. And oh, how it's driving me crazy that I can't name all six books!!!

medina family said...

I am now a follower of twelve crafts. What a cute idea! I better get started!

JJ said...

Have been following Twelve Crafts Till Christmas for a bit and LOVE your ideas - this one included.

JJ said...

Just signed up to follow Motherlode - what a wonderful idea. Will definitely stuff my kids stockings with one of these this Christmas (might have to sneak some blocks from their block set *sheepish grin*.

Erin said...

Of course I'm a folower. I love all your ideas!

www.makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com

cnydalynn said...

even if I don't win I am totally excited about discovering Motherlode! I love it!!! I subscribed and I am going to have so much fun making some of the things on the blog. :))

Okay these blocks are sooooo cute! My daughter would be in LOVE!

Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans said...

Of course I am a follower of 12ctc!

What a fun new article! I totally need to get my bootie in gear and start on christmas gifts! thanks for the reminder! : )

nrnoodle said...

I am a follower of your fun blog. I love reading all your great ideas.

Molly said...

I am a follower of MotherLode for reasons like this project!

Molly said...

I am also a follower of 12 crafts, thanks to following MotherLode. This happened just about 2 weeks ago! What fun!

shannon said...

I am a 12 crafts follower. mamatkins@hotmail.com

shannon said...

I put the 12 stockings button on my blog. www.movingmommy.wordpress.com thanks. mamatkins@hotmail.com

shannon said...

I put the 12 stockings button on my blog. www.movingmommy.wordpress.com thanks. mamatkins@hotmail.com

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I am no follower of your blog and so glad I found it!

Lyndee @ A Recovering Craft Hoarder said...

I am now subscribed to The Mother Load.
lyndeehenrichsen@yahoo.com

PerfectlyHappy said...

oooo.. i love this idea! I'm a new follower over from Making the World Cuter

love love love ur blog! oh i would love the SET TWO: Classic Children's Board Books

So cute! Thanks for the chance to win!

tnrutger@gmail.com

PerfectlyHappy said...

new mother lode follower too!! Love it!
will def try to make time for the tutorial if i don't win! already bookmarked!

tnrutger@gmail.com

Michelle said...

I follow 12 crafts!!!

Michelle said...

New follower to MotherLode!

Brook Holden said...

I follow 12crafts!
brookt_99(at)yahoo(dot)com

Brook Holden said...

I follow MotherLode.
brookt_99(at)yahoo(dot)com

cjameliamom said...

These are so cute!!! I'm following MotherLode.

cjameliamom said...

Been following Twelve Crafts for a while now. Great ideas here!

Anonymous said...

I am a follower. I would love to win any of the sets of blocks,although the Little Golden Books are my favourite. Thanks for the giveaway.
Dianne
jmclean at mts dot net

Michelle said...

LOVE this idea! And all the help stuffing stockings!

Adena (aka cre82learn) said...

So precious!! And I love the idea of making stocking stuffers. It's so easy for me to shop for my daughters, but my boys are another story.

Hallie said...

I am a follower of twelve crafts! This one is actually already on my list of things to make with my daughter this year as a gift fr her sister! We would love to win these!

www.ourbrokenroad.blogspot.com

Hallie said...

I am a follower of Motherload too!

www.ourbrokenoad.blogspot.com

Cupcake Dessert said...

I LOVE these. My connor needs some of these for his stocking. I am a new follower of twelve crafts.

Cupcake Dessert said...

I am a follower of Motherload too!

Cupcake Dessert said...

I also posted a link on my blog :)

Holly said...

I am a follower of twelve crafts

Holly said...

I've been a follower of MotherLode for a while, love these blocks! I've made similar blocks by taking pictures of my son's favorite toys against a colored cardstock background. but I like the idea of using favorite books. Especially Christmas books.

Kitschalicious said...

These blocks are so adorable. I'm thinking I'm gonna have to make these for my kid-a-roos!

Every year I have trouble trying to come up with stocking stuffer ideas. You have no idea how happy I am to see this feature!

Thank you for doing this! Now please excuse me while I go do cartwheels up and down the street! :0D

Lydia said...

I'm now a follower!!! Can't wait to see all the crafty ideas for stuffing stockings!!! Everyone I know is having babies, so even if I don't win this giveaway, I'll be making a set of these blocks! Thanks for sharing this awesome idea.

Ule Logue said...

I'm a follower of 12 crafts! I heart you!

ulogue at msn dot com

Ule Logue said...

I'm a follower of 12 crafts! I heart you!

ulogue at msn dot com

Ule Logue said...

Subscribed to motherlode!

ulogue at msn dot com

Sonya said...

Love this site and am a follower!

Now a follower of Motherloade - cute stuff!

Linked an idea up to Stocking Stuffers.

And added the button to my blog. :)

Unknown said...

I missed the drawing but am so glad to have found your blog. I will need to make at least 2 of these block puzzles for Christmas gifts and am looking forward to seeing all your ideas. I am a subscriber and a follower now. Thank you!

Kim said...

I love the vintage little golden books! Thank you so much!

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