My Holiday Decoration Wish List

1.  A beautiful wreath for my front door. 

2.  Owl ornaments for my daughter's tree.

3.  A little bit of mistletoe love.

4.  A bowl full of acorns.

5.  Perfect package decoration.

6.  Holiday Organization.

7.  Some glitter.

8.  Vintage ski patrol.

9.  Christmas in a jar.  Literally.

10.  Lots of letterpress.

Christmas DIY Project #12

I created this lovely banner with holiday scrapbook paper, and cut out the letters from the Cricut.  I attached the letters onto a 6 inch circle and then backed those with an 8 inch circle of kraft paper.  These are a timeless and beautiful holiday decoration.  Create your own and feel free to personalize it too.  If you would rather I make one for you, send me a quick comment or message.  Prices run at $1.00 per letter.

Sorry for the ugly photo.  I took it with my camera phone.  Eeks.

Monthly Kits, oh my!

Do you love to scrapbook, but have found yourself with scrapper's block?  I recently discovered JBSMercantile and the monthly scrapping kits they send to your door.  This isn't your momma's scrapbooking.  These kits have a vintage twist and you can even choose to order extra add ons to give your page that extra oomph.  Debited from your monthly account, these no hassle, no fuss kits come regularly unless you decide to cancel.  So to create your one of a kind scrapbook page today, make sure you take a trip to JBS Mercantile.

Small Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

I am still a loyal Etsy lover, but I have fallen in love with a new site.  Papersnitch is an exhibition site full of handmade treasures displayed in an online boutique like setting.  For stocking stuffers such as these, make sure you check out what Papersnitch is featuring.  

Ticker Tape Quilt

I stumbled across this adorable little quilt on the Sew, Mama, Sew! website.  I do have a TON of projects started and underway at home, so I think I am going to save this one for a few months until my little lovie really starts playing with all of her dolls, but I just loved this tutorial, and the end product is crooked, uneven, and oh so perfect.

Christmas Project Idea #11

This wreath is full of memories, cheer, and neckties!  This would make a great gift for a vintage collector or tie lover. You'll need a 14-inch wire wreath form from a crafts shop and 19 ties. Cut all ties but one into 15-inch lengths. Position the narrow end of first cut tie, front side up, on a section of the wreath. Wrap tie around form until pointed end is positioned as shown, hiding the rolled tie; secure with pins. Repeat, overlapping ties slightly. Flip wreath over; sew rolled-up ties to the backs of points. Pin on the uncut, bowed tie.

Stocking Stuffers

This DIY is perfect for your little babe's stocking.  Instead of buying them for $5-$8 at the store, create your own with your fabric scraps.  This tutorial shows how to create these clippies two ways: with a surger and with a sewing machine.  They are too cute! This tutorial was featured on Sew, Mama, Sew!  and was created by Dana from made.

A Little Scrapbooking Inspiration

Thank you Tia Bennett for creating this awesome, free download for you to use and to download and print at your whim.  After Christmas is over and all of the decorations are down from Willow's playroom, this sweet saying is going up on her walls.  Click on the picture to download your own.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I am addicted to Blog giveaways, but rarely ever do I actually win anything.  Well this time, I did!
Bleubird Vintage was giving away one lucky reader a $100 giftcard to Gypsy05 (comfy slippers and sweats, but oh so expensive) AND I WON!!!  Now, to pick out something for me, Blake, or Willow...that is the ultimate question.

New Digi Kit

I am in love with this new Digi kit by Hazel Olive Designs.  As descripbed on Two Peas, "Makes Me Happy is a vintage collection of fabulously contrasting colors! Rich dark papers meet meet the sunny disposition of yellow! This play on hues is such a fun and dramatic combination! Vintage additions add a unique storybook theme to your projects. Beautiful, sweet, playful...and just a bit romantic. Loaded with bright and sparkly pieces, vintage charm, and elegant detail."   Sounds like a fun kit to test out on a cold day.  Order yours now by clicking my Two Peas link on the left.

Willow has a wish list

I will share it with you...Wee People, Free People's new clothing line that is a bit--ahem--too expensive for our medical school budget, but cute enough to share with you anyway.  I could just picture my little peach sneaking around in these duds...and then spilling her blueberry yogurt all over them.

Did I mention that Free People is giving away $1000 in clothing to one lucky winner?  All you have to do is click here to enter.  Good luck.  In the meantime, have a peek at a few of my favorites.

Christmas Project Idea #10

Oh Martha, you did it again.  These tote bags are a super easy Christmas project and will guarantee excited gift openers.  I had totes similar to these made for my bridesmaids as thank you gifts.  Skip the monogram, and create your own pretty clip art for the front.

Recent Loves

I recently became a Two Peas affiliate...so if you need anything scrappy related, click out the link on the left.  Two Peas is every scrapper's best friend. They include shopping, blogging, product tutorials, galleries, and much more all on one website! One of my favorite things to do on Two Peas is to check out all of the members layouts, you know, to give me ideas for my own pages.  One member I love to "scraplift" from is a Two Peas member by the name of Paige22.  Her layouts are random, colorful, and creative.  She loves to mix and match patterns and colors to create a unified effect.  Perfect!

Curated: A Sneak Peek and Giveaway

Danielle Thompson of Kitschy Digitals has just created a new album kit called Curated full of quick scrapbook page layouts and ready to go pages.  All you need to do is upload your photos, personalize the pages, send it on over to shutterfly (or snapfish or wherever you go) and print!  Along with Danielle's sneak peek, she is giving away a complete kit!  To see this kit for yourself, check out the Thompson family blog, Kitschy Digitals, or Paislee Press.

Christmas Project Idea #8 and #9

I know, I know...these should be Holiday project crafts not wedding projects, but when I saw these votive candles on ruffled, I coudn't resist!  Using old pages from a book or dictionary, wrap them around a votice candle, hurricane, or jar to give a plain candle a new life!  When lit, the paper takes on a vellum effect and creates a smoldering glow.  These candles would be the perfect gift for a book lover, candle collector, or English teacher (hint hint). 

I posted my last Christmas project activity as DIY vodka.  I am not an avid drinker, I swear, but how sweet would this homemade Irish Cream (or non-alcoholic coffee creamer) be for your co workers or as party favors for your Holiay get together.  Also from ruffled, this recipe is one that is at the top of my Holiday to do list.  Check it out here.

Big, Little or Small

I have been wearing a scarf almost daily this fall even though the temps are still in the seventies here in Kansas City.  The perfect gift for me (and any of you scarf wearers) would be a scarf from the scarf shop.  These aren't your ordinary scarves.  Through the shop you can select from a myriad of colors and sizes.  Like your scraf long and skinny or would you rather pile lush layers of cloud soft cotton around your neck?  These options are wonderful and will satisfy even the pickest of scarf lovers. 

NieNie's Special Project

NieNie from the Nienie dialogues announces a new project for 2011: a special calender for you or your loved ones.  These would be perfect next to your computer desk or scrapbook table for a little extra inspiration.  Check out her blog and order your copy here today.

Christmas Project Idea #7

Today's Christmas project idea is brought to you by my talented older sister.  She was going to use these as gifts for her Christmas party guests last year, but ran out of time.

Infusing your own vodka...
Basically, you can take really cool spices (vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, cloves, etc) or fruits (pomegranates, cherries, blueberries), or random stuff (bacon or jalepenos :).... let those infuse with the vodka for 3 days to a week.  Place the vodka in a beautiful jelly jar, apothecary jar, or empty vodka bottle (jazzed up with scrapbooking embellishments) and you are done!

Start a New Tradition

Okay, I admit it.  My husband and I started decorating for Christmas already.  We put up a small tree and garlands over the doors and windows in our playroom.  I find decorating for the Holidays addicting.  I see things and stores and brainstorm in my mind how I can come up with the same idea for less at home.  This advent calender is something that I am so excited to do for our dining room.  I can just picture Willow, Blake and I sitting around eating our breakfast and counting down the days to Christmas morning with this scrappy chic calender together.

Christmas Project Idea #6

Sara Rhodes created these beautiful graphic glycerin soaps for Elsie Flanigan's blog.  Enjoy the tutorial here, and make your own for stocking stuffers.

It's That Time of the Year: Holiday Cards 101

Since I was a little girl, I looked forward to my parents receiving family letters, Christmas cards, and photo postcards in the mail.  In my head I chose my favorite designs and (this is slightly dorky) picked my children’s names and how my card would look.  When the JCPenney catalogs would come in the mail, I would pick out my pretend family’s coordinating Christmas photo outfits to match our Christmas cards.  In my head the final product would be perfect thanks to my endless imagination.

Now my imagination doesn’t have to stretch that far.  Blake booked our photo session this summer and last weekend we took beautiful fall pictures at Antioch Park.  The morning of our photo shoot I did a little shopping to coordinate our looks and then we were off.  Our photographer was wonderful and was so patient with little Willow.  We were able to see a sneak peek of our images which turned out better than I could have hoped for.  As soon as we got home, I ran up to the office and went to the Shutterfly website.  There, I tried to find the best Christmas cards to fit our beautiful portraits.  With all of their new ideas for holiday cards, it was so easy.  I even got a jump on making my standard holiday calendar and some extra little gifts for loved ones. 

Although I am not done with the finished product yet, here are some ideas for creating your perfect holiday card.

These ones are my personal favorites:

For something really unique, try shutterfly's story cards or christmas gift tags. 

How about giving your husband beautiful wall art to adorn his office?  Is your mother a coffee drinker?  Personalize these mugs with your child's pics and you have the perfect gift for a grandparent.  I traditionally scrapbook calenders for my loved ones every year for Christmas.  Try this easy to create and fun to personalize version to save you a little time. 

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, click here:  http://bit.ly/sfly2010 

Christmas Project Idea #5

Your friends will heart you even more after opening these one of a kind journals.  Amanda Johnson of Here's Lookin at Me Kid has designed several different Wooden Mini Albums and wants to share these tutorials with you. 

Wooden Album Cover Tutorial #1

Wooden Album Tutorial #2

 Wooden Album Tutorial #3

GIVEAWAY!

Handmade Nest is giving away a Handmade treat!  Go to this blog, check out this Etsy shop, comment about your favorite piece, and you are in!  Check out this beauty below. It is my favorite!

Christmas Project Idea #4

It's entirely free....well I guess you will need to pay for the cost of ink and paper, but check this out!  Today as I was blog surfing (trying to amp up my classroom blog) I stumbled upon the most remarkable blog: papersnitch.com.  And there, I stumbled across and even more rad (okay English teacher, is this correct) blog: mybarnowl.com.  For all of you Owl Lovers out there, here is a FREE Owl lover Calender.  Just chose your favorite Owl images, and voila!  A 2011 Owl Lover's Calender.  For you, or your friend, or your sister, or your niece, or your mom.  Awesome, right?