Uncommon's Best of 2011

2011 has been an amazing year for Uncommon.  We have grown by leaps and bounds and it is all because of our readers!  Thanks so much for letting this little dream of ours become reality.

  We thought we'd share some of our favorite posts from the past year! Enjoy!

Our  Mr. and Mrs. Fabric Reindeer Ornaments  were so sweet!

Our Tabletop Ribbon Trees and our Yarn Wrapped Trees were divine and so simple to make!

Speaking of trees...you guys loved the stunning Burlap and Twine Trees that Bonnie made! 

Our apothecary jars are what put us on the map, so we had to share our Fall Apothecary Jars with you this year!

We went "batty" this Halloween with our Bat Napkin Rings!

 

We continued our obsession with yarn with our "Boo"tiful Yarn Wrapped Letters!  



We tried our hand at printables with our Boo! Your Neighbor Printable



We launched our Uncommon Event Series and featured parties like our Girls Rock! Party.

Our Butterfly Breakfast was definitely one of our favorite events.

We made a patriotic Flag Banner for Independence Day.

 

The Ruffled Burlap Wreath was also a huge favorite and so versatile, too!



Thank you for making 2011 such a special year for us!  We can't wait for the new year to begin!  How about you guys?



***Bonnie and Trish***  

Kid-Friendly New Year's Resolution Printable and a Giveaway from My Memories

It is almost 2012!  I don't know about you guys, but I love the feeling of a brand new year on the horizon.  It makes me feel like I can tackle anything and I can forgive myself for not doing them last year and press on!

The  folks at My Memories were so kind to let us try out the My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking software.  We are having a New Year's Eve get together with a few families in our neighborhood, so I created a New Year's Resolution printable. It will be perfect for the school-aged children that will be there and I just can't wait to see what my kiddos have in mind for 2012!

Jewelry Holder from Thread Rack...{ Organizing in 2012 }

I think I can...I think I can...

This is the year that I get organized!
 {or at least try!}

This project is not original,hard, or time consuming...but it is one that I have promised my lovely daughter for some time!!

As your little girls grow into pre-teens, the need for accessory storage grows as well! So, after much inspiration on pinterest, a little jewelry organization was created...

I am not going to create the wheel here...this is a super easy, quick project! Three things needed...

Uncommonly Yours...{ Link Party #8 }

We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas!  Trish and I have really enjoyed spending quality time with friends and family and we hope that you have also!  

    It is time to link up your newest creations and ideas...please feel free to link up your  final Christmas projects, as well! You can find ours here!

Here are our favorites from last week...

Shabby Love decorated her master bedroom with this fabulous wall of mirrors!

This Caramel Party Mix by Organizing Home Life is just perfect for New Years Eve or any celebration!

Deep in the Heart of… Arkansas came up with a genius way to monogram lampshades!

Inspirations by D shows us how to make these adorable felt roses!!

Finally, The Hunted Interior has a wonderful tutorial for us on her stunning Chevron painted drapes!

Thank you to each of you who linked up! Please grab a button if you were featured and spread the word about our little link party!!

 <center><a href="http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/beuncommon/IWasFeaturedButton-1.jpg"/></a></center>   Now on to this week's party!! 

Merry Christmas 2011

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

                        Isaiah 9:6

The Reason For The Season...{ Nativity Ideas }

In all the hustle and bustle that this time of the year brings, I wanted to pause and remember the reason for the season...the birth of Jesus...

^"1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.
⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:1-14 NIV

Jesus...the Reason for the Season!!

I thought you might enjoy some nativity themed craft ideas...

HOPE Yarn Letters...

Don't you just LOVE yarn? To me, it screams winter and cozy! Trish and I were sent some wonderful yarns to try out from Lion Brand Yarns  and I created these adorable "HOPE" letters to help my family celebrate the Christmas season!!

Uncommonly Yours... { Link Party #7}

Are you ready? Trish and I almost are!! I feel like the Christmas season just flies by! Sigh...

Today, we begin our weekly link party...

"Uncommonly Yours"






<center><a href="http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n575/beuncommon/UncommonlyYoursLinkParty.jpg"/></a></center>

First, let's take a look at our features from our final "Home For The Holidays" link party...

Jenn, at Clean and Scentsible made these adorable candy cane hot cocoa treats! { she has a printable too!! }

Keeping Up With The Times shares this yummy flourless chocolate snow mountains!

Space 46 shows us how to wrap

 simple and beautiful gifts!

These covered paper cone trees are adorable! Project Queen has a tutorial for you!

Lindsay, from Southern Lovely, created these fantastic burlap scrap trees and shares a tutorial on how to create your own little forest!

Finally, take a look at this gorgeous mantel by Cherished Bliss!!  Loving her woven stockings and silhouette stocking holders...

Thank you to each and everyone who linked up! If you were featured, grab a featured button! { you can find it under our button tab at the top! }

Now, let's start this week's party...

The Tuesday Trade-Off: Balancing Home

Today on our Tuesday Trade-Off series are Megan and Ross from the blog, Balancing Home.  You are going to love what they did in their dining room!  The decor is fabulous and their transformation is stunning!  Here they are!…. 

We always envisioned a shelf on the gallery wall. Because this is such a popular walk through we didn't want a table. They were too deep and none were long enough. Thus, the shelf idea was born. I wanted something rustic and reclaimed, but rustic, reclaimed wood can get pretty pricey. Instead we picked up a piece of wood from the hardware store for $6.00.

Gorgeous, right? We used a sample can of stain and some 2x4's scrap wood we had. My husband sanded the wood down, not to much, but a bit and stained it. Then he cut down the 2x4's threw in some 45 degree angles and constructed brackets.

Our dinging room wall went from this...

To this...

To this...

I feel like the shelf finishes off the wall. It is a fun little place to decorate too. I don't have a fireplace (boohoo) so this is kind of like my mantle. I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out, especially considering it ran us right around ten dollars! WooHoo! Kind of fun seeing the transformations. Our dining room is turning into a moment instead of just a space to walk through and I am loving it.

Since this post the advent calendar finally got its permanent home.

Thanks guys and Merry Christmas! You can find Megan and Ross and more of their amazing projects and features on their blog, Balancing Home.

Interested in swapping blogs with Uncommon?  Just send us an email to be considered to be on our Tuesday Trade-Off! 

Mr. and Mrs. Reindeer Fabric Ornaments... { A Tutorial }

Trish and I had the opportunity to participate in "Under The Table and Dreaming's" Handmade Ornament Series last week! We thought we would re-post our sweet ornaments here for you to see!!

We both have a small obsession with fabric and trims, and wanted to use them to create an adorable set of ornaments! So, today we would like to show you how to make these  little guys...

Seriously...can't you just hear them saying...

"Rudolph? I think your cute."

" I'm cute! I'm cuuuuuuuute!"

So here is how to create your own little cuties..

Advent..A Season to Reflect, Remember, and Rejoice

Advent...

{ Winner } Shabby Apple Key to Wonderland Necklace

Congratulations Jennifer!  You are the Winner of the Shabby Apple Key to Wonderland Necklace! 

Jennifer said...

I follow uncommon! Thanks for the giveaway!

December 15, 2011 12:27 PM

The kinds folks at Shabby Apple are also offering the followers of Uncommon a 10% discount until January 14, 2012. Use coupon code uncommon10off.

Glittered Initial Ornaments { A Quick Gift Idea }

I just had to share the ornament that my youngest daughter and I made together for her little buddies at school.  We simply glittered wooden letters added a screw eye and some ribbon! 

Can it get any easier?  

This would work perfectly for gifts for teachers, co-workers, neighbors, friends, or as an adorable gift topper! 

Have fun!

Trish

Here is your Key to Wonderland { A Shabby Apple Giveaway }

Okay… is anyone else having the same serious problem that I am this holiday season?  You know the one…   the one where you are out shopping for gifts and you see so many little pretties that you would love to have yourself?  Well… now you can!   We are so happy to announce that we are teaming up with the online boutique, Shabby Apple, to give away a necklace from their fabulous vintage jewelry collection! 

If you've never heard of them, Shabby Apple specializes in super feminine women's and children's clothing, unique jewelry and accessories, and even items for the home.  They have so many beautiful things I would love to have in my wardrobe and in my jewelry box!

One lucky winner will receive the stunning Key to Wonderland Necklace. The necklace is an antique brass vintage reproduction skeleton key suspended on a 24” long chain.  It is such a beautiful and versatile piece of jewelry!

 

The kinds folks at Shabby Apple are also offering the followers of Uncommon a 10% discount until January 14, 2012. Use coupon code uncommon10off.

 
 

Here's all you have to do for a chance to win…

GIVEAWAY RULES


*Please leave us a quick comment for each entry-thanks!!*


1.  ONE entry for becoming a follower of Uncommon { just let us know if you already follow }

2.  ONE entry for liking Shabby Apple's Facebook Page.

3.  ONE entry for liking the Uncommon Facebook Page.

4.  ONE entry for telling us which piece of jewelry from Shabby Apple is your favorite!

The winner must be 18 and have a U.S. shipping address in order to win and there will be NO exchanges for this necklace- but why would you want to anyway?? It's so cute!! 
The winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by email { please make sure you are set up to receive email}.

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, December 15th, 2011 at 11pm EST.

Best of luck to you all!! 

**GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!**

Bonnie and Trish