Merry Christmas!

Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.





My Christmas wish this year, is that all of you have a safe and happy 2010!

<3

It's a {Green} Wrap!

I know that we are all trying to be as ecologically conscious as possible these days, but the Christmas season does tend to make that a little bit more difficult. It seems that "consuming" is the name of the game when it comes to Christmas...There is just so much waste from product packaging, to wrapping paper, to tissue, to ribbon, to gift bags, to gift tags and gift cards...it's a LOT to be throwing away on December 26th! But what can we do? Unwrapped gifts lack the elements of anticipation and surprise, so that's not an option for me, but neither is buying rolls of wrapping paper only to rip them up and throw them away! I have scoured the internet for the best wrapping ideas I could find, so that I could pass them along to all of you...Enjoy!

Once washed and turned inside out, chip bags make pretty wrapping paper...



Furoshiki is the Japanese art of wrapping presents with fabric. I would HIGHLY recommend checking out the link to learn more...You could use any fabric you have laying around the house, or incorporate the wrapping as part of the present..a silk scarf, a vintage handkerchief or a cashmere throw would all make sumptuous wrapping/present options.



Try sewing your own fabric gift bags using this simple tutorial...



Maps, especially vintage maps, make gorgeous wrapping paper...



Newspaper- especially the comics



If you have children, replacing wrapping paper with one of their prolific pieces of artwork will put it to good use...



Calendar pages make interesting wrapping material...




You could also use ornaments in place of bows...Why not try this tutorial to make a felt bow? I can be used year after year...and it's LOVELY!



I know it's extra work to wrap your presents in these ways, but it's WELL worth it...buying something for the sole purpose of throwing it away is soooooo 2001.

Keeping my Idle Hands Busy This Weekend...

This weekend, aside from picking up my sister's dog from the airport I am hoping to have some time to get a couple of projects done...I want to get a little more holiday decorating done, because I have an apartment tour planned especially for you, but I am also planning to do some sewing and some "baking" (read: mixing dough and freezing for later.) My gorgeous birthday present from my mom has come in the mail in time for me to wear it baking, cleaning, and puttering around this weekend! Excitement!

Hey, Mama...Want to see what you got me?!

Thank you so much! You have such lovely taste :)

Here are my planned crafts for the weekend...Steve says he wants to see more colour in our apartment, so some of these crafts are an effort to oblige him.

Embroidered Stocking from Purl Bee
These stockings will look soooo lovely nestled on our...entertainment unit.

Ruffled Pillow from Etsy Storque

I don't suppose I need to tell you I'll be making this in pink :)

Buttercup Bag from Made by Rae

I have been meaning to make this bag for about six months...what better excuse than Christmas, right?

Feather Tree from Martha Stewart

Also a project that would look fabulous in pink...

Laptop Tote from Sew Mama Sew

This simple project would be wonderful for anyone with a laptop... and isn't that everyone?

Enjoy your weekend, friends. Keep busy, and take some time to get in the festive spirit!

Advent Calendar

If you're anything like me, the anticipation leading up to Christmas is just as much fun as the actual day, but those 99 cent supermarket Advent Calendars simply don't excite me enough. I'm looking for something a little more creative, and a little more inspired. If you have children, the Advent Calendar is a great tradition to start, and can become a treasure memory. The pockets can be filled with chocolate (of course) but also little notes or small trinkets. It's a great way to reinforce the non-commercial meaning of Christmas for the little ones. Here I've collected some of the prettiest examples I could find on the web. Many are made with recycled items, and most can (and should) be used year after year.

Recycle Bin Advent Calendar from Craftastica

This first example is comprised entirely of things you'll find in your recycling bin (as the name suggests)

Easy Envelope Advent Calendar from Quietfish

The bonus here is that she has posted the fun family activity she put in each adorable, tiny envelope!

Matchbook Advent Calendar from Martha

Ok, so you may not have 24 matchboxes lying around, but maybe in 25 years...

Magnetic Cookie Sheet Advent Calendar from Craftbits

This one would look fabulous if you used an antique cookie sheet, n'est pas?

Embroidered Felt Advent Calendar from Purlbee

This sturdy variety offers a chance to brush up on your embroidery skills, and provides another fantastic use for wool felt! What could be better?

Paper Cone Advent Calendar from The Red Thread

Use your leftover scrapbooking materials for this project.

Printable Advent Calendar from Mibo

This is the easiest of all the advent calendars to create, and it literally takes 10 minutes...you could also reuse it, if you're so inclined.
Since today is December first, I recognize it's a bit late to be posting this, but maybe of you work really fast you could get at least one of these beauties done by the weekend. Your kids won't mind opening five mini gifts at once, I'm sure...neither will you, if that's your situation!

24 Days to go!

How to "Prettify" a Boring Christmas Wreath 101...

I finally got around to making my pink Christmas wreath, and while it's not quite what I had planned, I think it turned out quite well. I found this sparkly faux-boxwood wreath at Homesense for about $15. It wasn't quite what I had in mind, but I knew that with a little panache, I could make it work. I found the assorted pink Christmas balls for $1.99 for 12, also at Homesense...I already had the 24 gage wire from another project.

This is what you'll need.

I know the wreath looks supremely boring here...just try not to fall asleep. It gets better, I promise!

Cut a 4 inch piece of the wire using wire cutters (or scissors, if you're brave like me). Loop the wire through the eye on the ornament. Twist it a few times to secure, then place it where you want it on the wreath.


Secure the ornament to the wreath form by twisting the wire.


Continue on until you have placed all of the ornaments on the wreath.


Put it up on your door and watch through the peephole as all your neighbors walk by and admire :)


This same technique could easily be adapted to fit your colour scheme for the holiday season. You could also add pine cones, nuts still in their shells...think walnuts, pecans and basil nuts...not peanuts or pistachios...or other types of Christmas ornaments (birds could be cute). Be creative and have fun with it!

Now that my birthday has passed, I am really gearing up for Christmas. I am busily decorating our pint-size abode, and we are excitedly planing our 'Tis the Season Soriee. Lots more to come over the impending weeks!