12.27.2009
12.24.2009
12.23.2009
Santa's Sack, My Anal-Retentive Gift Wrapping, and a Guest Feature!
Before I begin here, you should know I'm guest blogging over at FaveCrafts Blog today about dressing up to go out on the town. Thinking ahead to New Year's Eve, here... Go check it out!
Okay, now I'll share with you my super anal-retentive method of wrapping gifts...but only if you promise not to mock me. Okay, you can mock me...and laugh...and point...Just do it quietly.
First, all (two) gifts from Santa arrive wrapped in red and white striped paper (ala Polar Express). They can be found in the fireplace in "Santa's Sack". This tradition began years ago because #1 son was super afraid each Christmas at the thought of a strange man tip toeing around our home in the dark of night. Really...it IS kind of creepy! He used to sit on Santa's lap and ask him to take the gifts to Daddy's work instead of coming to the house.
So, since that time, Santa has agreed to stay OUT, per our request, and simply drops the sack down the chimney and continues on his way to prowl through other unsuspecting children's homes. They still expect him to eat the cookies, though...go figure...
My kids sit down and write a thank you note before they leave for Mimi's house and Santa sends an elf to retrieve the sack left by the fireplace after we leave. This whole scenario has cut down on a lot of nightmares!
Sometimes this isn't possible, but I try to remember to release all items from their boxes before I wrap gifts from Mom and Dad. It saves lots of tears and bad words on Christmas morning if we aren't trying to unscrew a truck from a cardboard box. Either way, have wire cutters and a screwdriver handy just in case.
I try to give each child the same number of gifts. So, then I need to have that number of wrapping papers. Listen, you'll understand!
I arrange the piles into items that are similar and wrap them in the same paper. All DVD's get snowman paper, all cars get Christmas tree paper, all Legos get Santa paper, all books get gold paper, etc... So, then when it's time to open, I let each child choose a gift and the other two need to find the same paper in their pile and they unwrap all together. This way, no one's surprise is ruined when they watch their brother unwrapping and they know what that item is by it's shape in their own pile.
Make sense? It also slows down the process and turns it into a bit of a scavenger hunt. I sit and rub my eyes a lot during this whole process since it all goes down at around 6 a.m.
So, that's how we do it...what do YOU do Christmas morning?
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12.21.2009
Hand Made Christmas Ornaments - Tutorial Tuesday
My absolute favorite ornament submitted for my Hand Made Ornament Linky Party was the Paper Ball using wrapping paper scraps, submitted by Tina's Place!
I followed some links and discovered the original tutorial from Everyday Chaos using recycled book pages and I was in love! I gathered up my supplies and sat down right that minute to make one. It took one episode of Ellen and about $1.25 and I was done...want to learn?
Recycled Book Page Christmas Ornament
Supplies:
An old book (I used a cheap-o dollar store book I bought for projects like this)
Ruler
Ink pad
Hot glue gun
Old ornament
Pencil
Begin by preparing your book. Rip out the pages, then begin ripping 1 1/2 inch strips then 1 1/2 inch squares. I used the edge of the ruler to tear straight lines. I wanted a rough edge, but you could also cut these squares with scissors.
You will need MANY squares. Many more than this.
Now, rub the edges of the squares over the ink pad to age and distress them...you know I hate bright white!
See?
Here are the balls I used, gaudy glittery balls that came 5 to a tube at the dollar store:
Using your pencil, form the square of paper over the end of the pencil, like this:
Place a dot of hot glue onto the end of the paper "cup" like this:
And, stick it to the ball like this!
Repeat about a thousand times until the entire ball is covered:
Once you cover the entire surface, embellish it the way you'd like. I cut out a star from the front of a glittery Christmas card and attached a Merry Christmas banner like the original tutorial.
You could decorate yours in all sorts of creative ways!
It's so easy a child could do it...or two children could do it while arguing over the hot glue gun. Whatever.
Here is a round up of some of the other ideas you shared at the Christmas Ornament Linky Party last week!
Borax Snowflakes by Domestically Speaking:
Snowman Balls by Joy Beadworks:
And a last minute Glass Ball Ornament using rub-ons from Fingerprints on the Fridge:
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Christmas Tea
One of the Christmas traditions we have in my neighborhood is spending the afternoon together at the Johnston House Tea Room for "tea". Want to come along? Okay, hold up your pinkie in a most elegant way and let's go!Here is the front...you won't believe what is beyond this door!
Lovely table settings in beautiful Christmas-y rooms:
The most gorgeous snow-flocked tree trimmed in silver and white. You've never seen such a thing. My indoor photos don't do it justice:
Amazing vignettes with all sorts of Christmas decor displayed. Let's buy our ornament for the neighborhood ornament exchange party here!
Now, turn the corner to see the "tea room". Beautiful gold chairs with mismatched antique tea pots and china:
The snacks are served in the traditional way, savory tea sandwiches on the bottom, scones with clotted cream and jam in the middle and sweets on top:
While you are laughing and chatting and feeling so civilized...try not to notice you are the youngest group in the building by 20 years!
12.20.2009
Sunday Funny with JibJab
I love nothing more than to turn bad photos into something hilarious (Joy laughed for an hour with a picture of her hubs with a bucket on his head!). So, when the kids wanted to make a Christmas JibJab with them looking cool in their shades, it was up to me and the Big Guy to make it funny. Enjoy!Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
12.19.2009
Saturday Wrap Up
Well, guess what??? I won. Yep, I won Kimba's DIY Day prize. And I didn't even cheat and use my real life friendship with her to weasel in on it. Nope. Random Number Generator and I have a thing. He thinks I'm cute and he picked me as the winner last week.Want to know what I won? An awesome $50 gift certificate from Leen the Graphics Queen! Want to know what I picked during my shopping spree? Okay, check it OUT!
This lovely Three Floral Frame in burnt sienna:
And this sweet little Birdie Trio in olive green:
Did you know Leen has lots of other cool vinyl decals to spice up your own home. Let's go shopping:
This Antique Scroll Frame would look so cool as a way to display your kids' ever changing artwork. Maybe a little nail with a clamp attached up near the top to quickly change out the artwork? Huh? You likey?
This Wispy Grass would look so cool in so many different places!
And a little girl's room with this Dandelion Blowing in the Wind just makes me ache for a baby girl!
Okay, I'm done gushing. Go check out Leen's Etsy shop, you will love it!
Some of you girl's linked up your Ornament Wreaths on Tutorial Tuesday and I loved them! Let's remember some of my faves...
Rachelle, Fingerprints on the Fridge:
Becky, at Our Sweet Peas:
Ruth, at Farm Girl in my Heart:
And finally, let's take a minute right now to click on the widget below to send a holiday card of thanks to a soldier currently serving in Iraq. It would mean so much to know that they have all our support here at home.
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