I know how close it is to Thanksgiving, but I've been knocked down with the worst cold ever for the past week and I'm so behind! Luckily, my idea for my Thanksgiving banner was so super easy that I could get it done in just an hour (thanks to an awesome free printable). That means you still have time to make one before the big day! I'll show you in a few easy steps how to make a darling burlap and paper banner for fall and Thanksgiving. Plus, next year you'll be ready for Thanksgiving as soon as the Halloween candy is gone (which in my house is usually the next day)!

Give Thanks Thanksgiving Banner Tutorial

Supplies:
*Printable "Give Thanks" banner letters from Clairebella.com (they also have matching placecards, coasters, and more for free!)
*1/2 yard burlap fabric (available at fabric stores and even Walmart)
*Coordinating 3/4" or wider ribbon
*Leaves cut from coordinating patterned papers
*Coordinating buttons
*Hemp or linen thread and needle
*Sewing machine and coordinating thread

1. Print out "Give Thanks" letters from Clairebella.com. (I've had these on my Pinterest board for a while--so glad I was able to use them!) Lay them out on burlap and cut around them (don't be too picky--burlap is hard to cut!). Pull out a few threads from the bottom to create a fringe.


2. Sew letter cards to burlap with sewing machine. I just sewed around the edges (again, don't make it too perfect--it adds to the character!). Then sew ribbon along the top of each letter (in the right order, ahem), leaving a space between words.


I accented my banner with a simple leaf bunting that I stitched together with my sewing machine. More on these little leaves in tomorrow's project!

And here's where my banner really hangs across the windows in my kitchen (the photos just come out so much better outside!). I love looking at it and remembering to give thanks every day. I'm so thankful for this beautiful time of year!

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We have an exciting giveaway for you today! Have you ever heard of JewelMint?

Fashion icon Kate Bosworth and Hollywood’s stylist of the year, Cher Coulter have teamed up to bring you the ultimate in affordable luxury with their member-only jewelry club. Top Styles are chosen for you based on your fashion personality profile and style. There are new personalized jewelry designs to check out every month and by becoming a member of JewelMint you can get personalized jewelry recommendations from Kate Bosworth and Award-Winning Stylist Cher Coulter!

Look at some of these gorgeous pieces.



Don't you just love them? And with JewelMint you can get pieces like this and latest jewelry trends by your favorite trendsetters for just $29.99 a piece! You can also take the fun style quiz and gain access to exclusive, handmade designer jewelry. Today, JewelMint is offering a fabulous giveaway to our readers! Go to JewelMint and find your favorite piece that is shown and then come back and tell us what it is in a comment. Then you will be entered to win an amazing gift package!


JewelMint is also offering our readers a special discount of 50% off the first item for first time JewelMint customers! Use promo code LBS50. The offer is good until 11/30/11. This would be a great time to snatch up a lovely gift for the holidays. This giveaway will end Sunday, November 20, 2001 at 11:59pm PT.

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I've had to curb myself from putting up Christmas decorations already, so I decided to do some fall decorating to tide me over. I needed a fall wreath, and I didn't want to spend too much, so I threw together a really simple one with a grapevine wreath and a few fall picks. But it needed something. I loved the plaque hanging in the center of my Halloween wreath, so I decided to run with that idea. I love how it turned out, and how easy it was! If you need a quick, easy, and inexpensive fall or Thanksgiving wreath idea, this one's for you. . .

Fall Wreath With Frame Tutorial

5. My frame had a hanger on the back, so I inserted the ribbon through it to hang it from the wreath. If your frame is not equipped with a hanger on back, try threading the ribbon through the frame before you put the glass in!

Tie the ribbon to the top of the wreath. I added a double bow because my ribbon wasn't as wide as I would've liked it to be. I hung my wreath from a Command Hook (they're strong and removable!) that I added to my front door. Happy fall!

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Thanks for entering our Ooh Baby Designs Giveaway! The winner of an infinity scarf in mustard is...

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A few weeks ago I started making my Christmas tree ornaments, and I realized I have kind of a theme going. Sheet music! I love the vintage look, and even though my regular decorations are vintage-y in silver and red, I'm excited to try something new this year while my Christmas decor is in storage. I love the look of yellowed paper and glass glitter. Here's the first of my ornaments (more coming soon!).
The full tutorial is being featured over at I {Heart} Naptime today as a part of Jamielyn's Crazy Christmas Crafters (I consider myself in that category!). Check it out! There are so many great ideas from some of the best craft bloggers out there to get your Christmas wheels spinning!

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We are excited to introduce you to an adorable shop on etsy called Ooh Baby Designs. There are adorable scarves, clothing and accessories so you must go check it out!

We wanted to hear about this shop's designer for ourselves so here is a little about her...

"I love to create. I have to be creating something in order to feel alive. Working with textiles is a wonderful to way to create functional pieces of art that encourage imagination and pride in the wearer.

I also love being a mother. With all its ups, downs, good, bad, chaos and peace there is nothing I have ever done that elicits such appreciation as being a Mom. As such, I love to make products designed to make a mom's life easier, prettier, and less expensive like; reusable baggies and grocery bags, mini messenger bags, pretty coffee cozies, cowls and scarves."

There are so many adorable scarves I have my eye on. I really love scarves and they feel extra cozy this time of year. I die for this mustard infinity scarf. I cannot get enough of this color. I have used so much of it in my home and am realizing it's a bit of an addiction for me!

I also love this black and silver one. My family room is black, white/cream, and mustard actually. Am I noticing a pattern here?
My neck is crying out for one of these adorable scarves and many other great ones at Ooh Baby Designs. So, I am really jealous of all of you that get a chance to win one! Today, Ooh Baby Designs is offering one lucky reader the chance to win an infinity scarf in mustard. This mustard, soft, knit circle scarf is scalloped at the edges with contrasting thread for a feminine look. There is a lot of stretch in this piece. It can be worn long, over the shoulders as a shawl, or wrapped twice around the neck on cold windy days.

So here's what you need to do to enter. Visit Ooh Baby Designs and find your favorite scarf (besides the mustard one) and then come back and leave a comment saying what it is. For a second entry you can like Ooh Baby Designs on Facebook. For a third entry, you can favorite the Ooh Baby Designs shop on etsy. Good Luck. This giveaway will end on Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 11:59pm PT.

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Here's what Karen helped me choose. A darling design worked inside each block, with a similar design around the border. Love it!

Karen is also offering a 25% off coupon to our readers! To receive your 25% Off Coupon (no expiration date), simply email "25% OFF COUPON" to KarensQuiltMagic@gmail.com. Be sure to check out Karen's pricing and quilting instructions, too.

You should really give yourself a break this holiday season and let someone else do the hard work for you!

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I finally put all my Halloween decor away (it was hard to do--I love Halloween!). Now I'm scrambling for some cute fall stuff, since everything I have is packed away in a storage unit! I do have a couple of projects in the works, but for today here's a quick and easy way to dress up inexpensive pumpkins to use in lots of ways, like in a fall centerpiece. I used Martha Stewart's Liquid Guilding in copper (thanks to a nice contribution of her new stuff by Plaid). It is way cool stuff. I can't wait to guild a few ornaments for my handmade Christmas, too! You can see the full tutorial for how to guild objects over at Make and Takes where we're guest posting today. Enjoy!

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Wow, do you ever get to the end of the week and wonder how you got there? I feel like I'm just coming up for air after a crazy couple of weeks! Besides celebrating my oldest son's baptism with out-of-town guests (and a trip to historic Nauvoo), I've been finishing quilts, putting together new fall decor for my house (tutorials coming!), making projects for a couple of guest posts, and working on three new crochet patterns!

But I'm back this week with new tutorials and a giveaway, and watch for my new patterns next week (at least that's the plan!). So don't give up on me! I'm still alive and kickin'.

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Our two fabulous giveaways have now ended and we are excited to announce the winners!

The winner of our groopdealz giveaway who wins a $50 Target gift card is...

The winner of our scentsy giveaway who wins 1 plug-in and 1 bar of their choice is...

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