Thank you so much for reading Living Locurto! It’s hard to believe that in 2011, there were over 1,360,175 visitors and nearly 7 million page views to my blog. Wow! I’m so grateful for each and every one of you who visit, share with friends and support this site. I can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring!

I’ve compiled a list of the most popular creative ideas from each month during 2011. I hope you enjoy looking back through these ideas as much as I did.

January

Tron Birthday Party {Free Printables}

February

iPhone Valentine – Free Printable

March

Easter Marshmallow Treats & Free Printable Cards

April

Ice Cream Cupcakes Recipe & Free Printable Tags {Teacher Gift}

May

Star Wars Graduation Party {Free Printables}

June

Father’s Day Card & Tags {Free Printable}

July

4th of July Marshmallow Pops

August

How to Make Duct Tape & Fabric Rings {DIY Craft}

September

10 Creative Vegetable Trays

October

Halloween Recipe – Brains in a Jar Cupcakes {Free Printables}

November

Napkin Wreath – DIY Holiday Craft

December

25 Elf On The Shelf Ideas {Free Posing Guide}

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

I am super addicted to glitter. The more bling and sparkles the better, right?! Here are some simple DIY craft ideas for how to add glitter to your party decor!

A fun and easy idea for a party centerpiece is to make a Glitter Lollipop Tree and stick lollipops in it!  I made this craft for my daughter’s Bumble Bee Party and it was a hit!  Find how-to DIY steps for this fun glitter tree on my blog.

Glitter magnet party favors are super easy and also adorable. Pugly Pixel has a great tutorial on how to make this craft. Use them as favors or for sparkly party decor.

I can’t get over this gorgeous DIY cupcake stand by The Sweetest Occasion. Totally my style!

How about adding glitter to your flatware for that New Year’s party you are hosting?  Oh Happy Day shows how easy adding a little glitter can be by painting your flatware.

Put a little glitter on your glasses! Tip Junkie featured a great DIY craft idea for Champagne Flutes by Something Turquoise.

A lollipop party is a very popular theme these days!  Look at these glittery, cute and simple lollipops you can add to a desserts table or a candy buffet table.  You can learn how to make these over at the Living Well, Spending Less.

 It’s easy to add some glitter to party food with edible glitter sprinkles!

Amy made some fun and easy Cherry Jello Jigglers and used Wilton Edible Glitter sprinkles to make them twinkle.

You can’t go wrong with adding edible glitter to cupcake and cookie frosting! These glitter desserts featured on Wedding Bells by Sugar Baking are amazing!

Here are some other links to some fabulous ideas for a New Year’s party!

• A fun DIY New Years party hat.
• I’m loving these glittery DIY New Year’s party favors.

Happy New Year 2012!

Nancy Pfeifer is a talented mom and party planner from Arizona and founder of A to Zebra Celebrations and MyPartyIsOver.com, a place for everyone who loves to recycle and reuse party decor. She loves planning parties for her two daughters! Follow Nancy on Facebook and Twitter.

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

Repurposing items for crafts is my favorite. I have been saving my coffee cup sleeves each time I go to Starbucks and I finally decided to craft with them! I thought making bracelets with my daughter would be fun. Little did I know, my son would want in on the crafting too!

So go grab a cup of coffee, and I’ll show you a few ways to create a cute bracelet with that cardboard coffee sleeve and items you probably already have around your home.

How to make bracelets with Starbucks coffee sleeves.

Next time you buy coffee keep your cup sleeve, or if you’re at the coffee shop, grab a few extras.

Now cut the cardboard to size, then roll it inside out. You will want to decorate the inside. Rolling it like this makes the cardboard curve the correct way, so you can wear it.

Gather some ribbon, a stapler, hot glue, paint or any other items you want to decorate a bracelet with. I used ribbon for this one. I stapled the ribbon to the end.

Then I made a wavy pattern by using my hot glue gun.

I then found some thin ribbon and wrapped it around as another decorative pattern. I glued it in a few spots.

We like sparkles, so I attached some crystals. I think it turned out so cute!

Get fancy and make one for yourself too! It’s fun!

You can make all kinds of jewelry with cardboard. Check out the DIY rings I made out of coffee cup sleeves!

Enjoy your coffee and have fun crafting.

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

How many of you have extra keys in a drawer someplace? Well, you should whip out some resin glaze and beads for a unique charm necklace. These gorgeous necklaces are by the talented Cathe Holden. She always has the neatest craft ideas!

She started with old pendants, keys and even a pennies. Then added some decals, glitter and glaze to make a one of a kind charm.

Head over to Just Somthing I Made for step by step directions and more photos:

• Amazing Glaze Pet Tag Memory Pendants & Other Decal Charms

• Decal Penny Pendant

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!

A few weeks ago, I talked about my trip as part of the Michael’s Creative Crew. I was honored to be one of 10 creative bloggers invited to visit the Michael’s Headquarters. I can’t really put this amazing trip into words, so I’m showing you a lot of photos!

Before going on this trip, I was a customer of Michaels, (well, I practically live there) but I didn’t know much about the company at all. After meeting the people of Michaels… I’m ready to quit my job and go work for them! Seriously I totally would if they would have me:-)

The Michaels team is the most creative, genuine, and dedicated group of people I have ever met. The time they put into making quality products and understanding their customers is very unique.

(Kami, Cindy & Me)

On Thursday evening we socialized, crafted and enjoyed a wonderful dinner with inspiring speakers (a creative blogger’s dream night!). Then on Friday we toured the headquarters where we learned many interesting facts about the company.

For instance, I didn’t know Michaels had their own product lines, which are the same quality of name brands, but a better value. They had all of their products set up for us along with amazing crafts made by their fabulous creative team. Talk about eye candy! Of course we all whipped out our cameras and browsed around in awe.

We then got to meet the creative team and see where they work. These ladies are such an inspiration and full of talent. They come up with craft ideas for all of the Michaels stores. I’m amazed that only a handful of people can keep up with that demand.

And the ideas they come up with are amazing! Here are just a few product and craft photos I took. My head was literally spinning after seeing so many creative ideas.

We had the best lunch at the home of Michael’s Creative Expert, Jo Pearson.

Jo is such a joy and wonderful hostess! Her home is a whimsical wonderland. I was in awe of everything fun. Pretty much each and every corner was crafted in some unique fashion, usually with a hint of animal print and glitter as well. The home truly captured her bubbly personality.

Everyone had a blast taking photos and exploring her amazing home. You can see Jo and her fun personality on many craft tutorial videos for Michaels. Look for her smiling face at your local Michaels too. They play her craft show at the check out line in various stores.

I was so excited to meet Amy and Jenn, two of my favorite party bloggers. Party girls sure know how to have fun!

After lunch, we headed to one of Michaels stores for more crafting. For all of you Dallas readers, this was at the Southlake store. The craft room is gorgeous! I really want to host a birthday party or girls day there soon. Who’s in???

Crafting with the talented Michael’s creative team and blog friends was my most favorite time of the trip by far!

We made jewelry, cards, decorated cakes, stamps and painted! Michaels sure knows how to have an event with style.

One of my favorite crafts was when the talented mixed media artist Kathy Kromer taught us how to use Derwent Inktense Pencils. They look just like plain colored pencils, but when you paint with water over your drawing, it turns into paint. Such a cool product! You can see what I painted above. I had never heard of these types of pencils before and now I’m addicted and so are my kids.

Another fun kid friendly craft I had never made before were custom stamps. Watch this quick video as Kathy teaches you this easy technique of making custom stamps from foam paper. It’s SO easy, both you and your kids will love it!

It was a such a blast being around so many creative minds and bloggers that I admire!

We also learned about these very neat Wilton Sugar Sheets. Everyone got to decorate a cake with them by using punches to make fun shapes.  I love this product, the cakes turned out so adorable! I was the only one who lived local and didn’t have to catch a flight home… so guess who got all the cakes?

I put them to good use the next day at a craft pool party with the neighborhood kids.

As I figured, the kids loved the Derwent Inktense Pencils and my other loot that Michaels sent us home with.

I want to thank Michaels for such a lovely trip. The creative inspiration they provided me was invaluable. I look forward to sharing more craft ideas from Michaels soon.

Fun Links:

• Michaels on Facebook & Twitter

• Store Events & Classes

• Go on a Creative Cruise with Michaels – Oct. 23-30, 2011

• Michael’s YouTube Channel – Lots of great craft videos

• Find a Michaels Store near you.

Meet the rest of the “Michael’s Creative Crew”:

Amy from Amy Atlas Events, Jenn from Hostess with the Mostess, Jen from Tatortots & Jello, Kari from UCreate, Alison from HowDoesShe, Cindy from Skip to My Lou, Kami from No Biggie, Kelly from Make Grow Gather, and Ashley from Make It and Love It.

Disclosure: Michaels provided my accommodations, food and crafting goodies. I provide you with my unbiased opinion.

Be sure to join Amy on Facebook for more fun!
Also, be sure to check out Printables by Amy! Find easy and affordable digital files to download and print at home or at your local quick print shop. Each product is custom designed by Amy, a professional graphic designer. Amy makes do-it-yourself projects a breeze!