New Year New Year

It's terribly late to wish you one, isn't it? However, here's the result of last year resolution; finally, some baking! I don't know the name of it, though, it consisted of flour, sugar, eggs, milk, strawberries and kiwis as toppings, lots and lots of whipping cream.

What's your last year resolution that has been realized?

Doorbells and Sleigh Bells

and schnitzel with noodles.. Pardon me, once again. I promised you not to sing again but with Bing singing, it's hard not to sing along. That is that or I am just too lazy to think of post title. Anna of Hey Bubbles just emailed me that she's been using my printable paperdolls! Double yays when I found out that her blog is filled with holiday delight! Enjoy a little and do take a visit while you're still holding that mouse.





This is the kind of customer picture that I like. I want to little-piggied her toes so bad.

Coming to Town

I got all the present wrapped up, the lights turned on, and the hot chocolate stocked up! It's the craziest Christmas for all of us, don't you think? Snow in Australia at this time?! And I bet some of you must be experiencing the worst winter of all time. I hope for our earth to heal well and we can still, hopefully, inhabit it next year. Wishing you aMerry Christmas and a happy new year .


From babalisme..
See u next year!

Mail-y Christmas

Nothing beats snail mail. The crisp envelope, the stamps, the red and blue stripes, the post office markings.... E-mails are fast, reliable, and certainly make us feel young and updated with the world :P, but sorry, e-mail, as much as I rely my whole correspondence life on you, I still have my biggest crush on anything snail mail.

So, I have been thinking, every Christmas day I share gifts to my family, but most of them can be reached at 10 minutes drive or so. That makes me reluctantly avoiding postal service for this matter. But how if I want the gifts as if they're freshly stamped out of the post office? Luckily, my friend Adobe is always here to help. Meet my post office-y mail tags (and sticker if you want them to be).

download

Do share your pictures if you're using it :). Happy gift wrappings.

ps. dear fake commenters/scammers/advertisers/youknowwhoyouare please, my blog as you can see is non profit and aimed toward families with young children. Please do not link or comment something un-appropriate in your comments. Thank you.

*** if Scribd is troubling you, please head here for Googledocs version of this printable! ***

Paper Wonderland

As you wish, readers. Make some reindeer garland/bunting as in here. How to make it? Remember the children paper bag garland you used to make in kindergarten? Same treatment here. Anyhoo, if you're still puzzled here's how to do it.

1. trace the pattern into desired card stock/paper of choice, to avoid arthritis I suggest in not much weight than 90gsm.
2. did you notice the red vertical line on the pattern? that's where you should fold the paper (in accordion fold) and be careful not to cut through that line or your reindeer won't kiss.
3. once you finish, the reindeer chain will look slightly curved. If you're using A4 paper, and print the pattern by 50%, like I did, you'll need 3 chains of reindeer to make full circle.

Easy peasy. Talking about paper.. I have made and mailed my cards for little.lovely Christmas card project. I thought I told you I got scissors happy this Christmas. My first try on paper cutting, please do gentle criticism. Just kidding. Do harsh criticism if you like. Here's them before they hit the envelope.

My humble "box" tree. :)

This one is, obviously, inspired by 1948 Disney short, Once upon a Wintertime. As a kid I watched this over and over again, swooning to the song and the images. Thanks to youtube, I get to watch it again and again and again...

Deck the Doors

..with paper reindeer garland falalalala.. .. ..OK, OK! I'll stop singing if you stop sneering. My version of cheap and chic holiday garland, not to mention they can be built in less than 20 minutes. I didn't make any pattern I just got scissors happy, but if you need one, do tell me and I'll try making one. Also, excuse me for all un-reply emails, messages, and comments. I'll be back to blogosphere as soon as I am done with this one deadline. Have fun holiday decorating!

Jolly Pals

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I haven't set up any Christmas tree nor decoration! sob. I know, it's beginning to look less like Christmas at my home, why do deadlines come right on the jolliest season?

Anyway, enjoy the second Christmas Tag Pals. Meet Angel, Ginger, and Elfie. If you are using this please do share your picture with the rest of babalisme's readers. Have a merry weekend!

*** if you have trouble using Scribd, here is the Googledocs version. Enjoy! *** 

on the First day of Christmas

(sing) .. babalisme gave to you. A pair of Christmas pals tags....

*insert blowing-winter-wind sound*

Can I have a little excitement around here? It's Christmas, everyone!!

I'm planning to give away 12 Christmas printables for free!! Yaay! Hold on. I get excited too easily I might lose my breath (or peed my pants, whichever comes first).

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Scribd

First one is here, free tag (or tree ornaments, garlands, placecards, whatever your creativity takes you) of Mr. Claus and his favorite (and ours) reindeer, Rudolph. The tags are inspired by tin vintage Christmas ornaments. And I know a Snowman is very tempting to be fitted in the design but I need your ideas, which Christmas pals do you want to see next?

And I am using Google doc this time, I hope you can all download it minus the trouble Scribd have you. I personally like Scribd more. But hey, we gotta try, right?

Happy weekend!

Holiday from the Past

buy here

I went all vintage last year. I'm lucky because I have a mom who treasures all those trinkets from the year she married my dad, but if your mom has thrown away all of her stuffs, don't fret. Because these days, vintage can be bought (great gift ideas too!).

Get here

buy here

Pom Poms : Strikes Again

Remember this? If you haven't managed to make a pair for your shoes, you'll be hearting new line from ban.do : shoe clip! Available in colorful pompoms, sequin hearts, and pretty flowers. And I have hot glued my comfiest ballet flats ... doh!

Edible Cuties

hiphostess' chocolate fondue ideas.

I'm so sorry for the lack of posts recently. I have been either arguably terribly busy or just plain lazy. I don't know why but many clients decided to order at this time of the year, yes, every year. So this is probably my busiest season. Anyhoo, been lurking all over baking blog out there because I am learning the how-to. Today Baby G and me baked some classic sugar cookies. I'm practicing for Christmas! No, we don't have any photos to share because being the baker and the photographer isn't easy, the icing didn't look that proper, and the cookies were gone in about a minute or so. I only made a dozen though, the possibility of baking tragedy scares me much.

If you're not afraid of baking failure and in preparation of Christmas dessert options, these might be good ideas to try on.

rikrak studio and june bride's snowflakes cookies. They're having a giveaway too!

A new baking blog, the daily mixer shares a cute chocolate mold tutorial!

Wall Ornaments..

found Henry here

peek here

.. shouldn't have to be pricey "we-are-absolutely-clueless-about-the-meaning-of-it-but when-friends-come-over-we-act-like-we-do" abstract paintings or dead animals' heads. Take a clue here and start decorating. Now, where did I put my grandmother's old house basement keys?

lust over here

You've got Mail

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Have you ever received a mail, a real one, along with envelopes and stamps, and not liking it? Apart from junk mail, that is. I might sounds a bit crazy but I really really adore all things mail. I love the blue and red stripe on air mail envelopes, I love the ridges on stamps, I love the uneven paint of a post office seal, I even love the smell of freshly delivered mail.

Since all my families and friends prefer texting and tweeting by now, I decided to join little.lovely.'s holiday letter exchange. I can remember when I was a kid, every Christmas was spent by licking stamps and writing addresses. I got creative with decorating the envelopes and picking the right card with the right message for our relatives. It wasn't easy and such a laborious task to do compared to check-listing your email/ facebook contacts and click "Send". I wish for Baby G to remember something from the much forgotten era, that once, a greeting was sent inside an envelope. I think the project is supposed to be random, so if you feel like putting a smile on a stranger's face this holiday, do join :)

Anthology Issue 1

If you're like me, who has more magazines on her rack than clean panties, you'll be thrilled of a new magazine about decor and lifestyle called Anthology. Judging by the cover and the blog, it's a kind of magazine I won't be throwing away in piles. They're having launching party at San Fransisco, lucky you if you live nearby, you can RSVP here. Sigh. Well, the rest of us can sneak peak a little here, and I'm already thrilled!

picture and news via OhJoy.

Anyway, in the mood for some braided pigtails and a little cuteness? Visit for more at All ThingsPeachesandCreams. Yay for playing with Halloweenie doll! Thank you, Taline!

One more question before I leave, have I gotten into the Xmas mood too early?

Halloweenies Around the World!

So, how was fright night? Who were you on Halloween? I read that this year's popular costumes are Snooki and Gaga. LOL, I'd love to see a fabric meat dress and shoes. Anyway, I'm here to share some Halloweenies printable put up to good use.

PinkPug thought she's too old playing magnetic dress up, she thought of better (and more creative) ways to use them. Looking lovely? MUCH!

Amesh ordered an all pirate costume theme for her son Yuara's birthday, here pictured with all the good things she share for the lootbag. I envy her guests. Check out Yuara's 2nd birthday here! I love her puppet show stage and DIY puppets!


I also did Yuara's invitation, which was printed on potato sack fabric! Great idea! The sailboat plushie is Amesh's DIY, I went gaga over it!

If you have printed and played with my Halloweenies printable, plesase do share! I love great surprises like these!

p.s. Some of you might have heard about the earthquake and eruption in Indonesia. It's like the catastrophe in the movie 2012 coming as predicted. My home, fortunately, still miles away from ground zero. But yes, as a country, we are struggling to help and comfort each other as much as we can, right here and now. I hope for your prayers and smiles to keep us strong. If you wish to help more, visit Indonesia Red Cross and distribute your share of help via Red Cross ONLY. Indonesia is listed with most corrupt government officials and lots of faux charity events emerging lately, do not trust easily. If you have trouble reaching Indonesian Red Cross, you can contact your local Red Cross or email me for any further questions. Thank you for all your support.