Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Friday, December 27, 2013

monogrammed tags

I tried something new this year with gifts! We are always sorting through gifts trying to find the ones that are for the cousins and grandparents, the ones for our kids and the ones for friends etc. This year I picked a different paper for each group. So our family gifts (for the girls) were in green chevron paper, extended family gifts that we would need to take with us during travels were wrapped in red and white paper, and friend gifts were in a floral green and white. It helped alot!

So our family had chevron paper. But we give gifts to the girls and the girls exchange gifts to eachother. So to separate or distinguish between those- I decided to just monogram all the gifts from John and I. It was an easy way to tell who the gift was for and who it was from.

I lucked out and found these adorable wooden stickers at Michael's... an eight pack of stickers for $1- not bad! And they are wooden so we can use them again next year if needed!





I think they turned out adorable! I loved them! 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Easy outdoor decor for winter

Most people tuck their pots and planters away for winter. But I wanted to share some super easy ways to spruce up your pots and keep them pretty all winter long!


On our property we have white pine, blue spruce, yews other evergreens. So when the weather turns cold and continually staying in the 30s or below- I walk around the yard with my clippers and a bucket.

I cut low lying branches from a variety of trees. Cut larger bows, you can always trim them down later. Feel free to also collect dead branches, sticks and pine cones...these also work nicely in the planters.

I fill a few buckets with water and set them in garage. Then I soak all my clippings overnight. This ensure they last through the season and not dry out prematurely.

The next day I lay out all my branches in groups. And then start layering the pots.

Blue spruce bows hang nicely so I put those on the bottom. And then top those with yew clippings. I stand some white pine clippings in the back. White pines are airy and thin - so they basically just add height.

Start nestling in some pinecones. I sprayed painted some branches white, but red would be pretty too. Stick those into the dirt to add more height and color. If your planters have no dirt- you can use styrofoam, just place it on the bottom of the pots before you start. You may need to anchor them down with some rocks. 

You end up using more than you think...so do your spring trimming early and cut back more than you think when gathering branches!


Beautiful birch wood I saved from when we had to cut one down! 



If you end up needing more bulk...you can always fill in with faux greenery. I added a few sprigs from the craft store. But for the most part this project was FREE!!! So easy and cheap! 



Thursday, December 19, 2013

Advent Calendar

Here's a quick and easy Advent Calendar. I have been infatuated with the advent calendar idea forever! There are tons that I loved, but I never wanted to spend as much as they were going for. And the boxes were always really small. In the end, I made this one.

I was at the craft store and happened across these adorable burlap bags. So many possibilities! But I immediately thought of the advent calendar. Once I was home, I assembled all of my supplies and set to work. 



  • I numbered the bags 1-25 with a sharpie and some stencils. 
  • Grabbed an old frame, removed the glass and roughed up the wood with a sander. 
  • Used a staple gun and attached chicken wire to the back. It helps support the bags so they don't push back once filled and add a little touch of shabbiness. 
  • Whip stitched some red and white twine through the bags in numerical order. (for my frame I did 5 rows of 5 bags. )
  • Hammered in some tacks to which I attached the twine rows. 
  • Hot glued some greenery and pinecones to the top

Pretty simple!!!

Here's how she turned out! 



I also attached little clues to the bags...like the snowflake ornament, cookie cutter and holiday light. Some gifts were obviously too big for the little burlap bags...so they are wrapped and labeled with their corresponding number. The tag in the bag will alert them if there is a gift too. For example, "Stay toasty and warm with a cup of hot cocoa! p.s. open gift #3"

So here are our activities!!

  1. chocolate truffle
  2. Hug your sisters
  3. Hot chocolate (travel coffee mugs for each)
  4. Write or call a grandparent
  5. Grinch poo (green tic tacs with little poem...follow the link)
  6. Cut out snowflakes (snowflake ornament)
  7. monogrammed playing cards
  8. Make gingerbread houses
  9. Gather clothes to donate from closets
  10. Share your favorite Christmas memory (thumb drives for each)
  11. Do 5 good deeds today
  12. Compliment someone (pack of gum)
  13. Listen to everyone's favorite Christmas song (iTunes card)
  14. Drive around and look at Christmas lights (holiday lightbulb)
  15. Decorate sugar cookies for neighbors (cookie cutter)
  16. Read a Christmas book
  17. Make someone smile (chapstick)
  18. Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for (pencil)
  19. crocheted scarves (made by me!)
  20. Watch a Christmas movie together
  21. Mistle toes (nail polish)
  22. Make a snowman, snow angel or have a snow ball fight 
  23. Notecards personalized for each girl
  24. Christmas pajamas
  25. Merry Christmas...check your stockings!