a little help as you write thank you's

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope it was delightful and festive and magical.  Our day was full of Burke's laughter and delicious food and general merriment.

Today is a day of lounging, letting Burke actually play with some of the Way. Too. Many. Toys he received (to be honest, his favorite gifts are probably books, so I bet he'll spend a good portion of today reading), eating leftovers and just hanging out together.

If you are thinking about thank you notes, don't forget to enter the personalized stationary giveaway that ends on new years eve.  That's not on my to do list, not for a few days at least.  But free thank you notes might put it a little higher on my radar, so go win 'em.

Happy Boxing Day, friends!

wassail- a family recipe

I hope y'all are enjoying your Christmas Eve!  Growing up, our family had about a hundred Christmas Eve traditions- we saw a movie Christmas Eve afternoon, went to Christmas Eve service at church (wearing our new Christmas outfits, of course... I should note that the new Christmas outfits were still a part of the tradition through college- haha!), drove around and looked at lights (while we listened to the 'rudolph report'), came home to eat soup (used to be clam chowder, but over the years that morphed to my dad's famous green chile) and drink wassail, and opened one present (the aforementioned pj's) before heading to bed.  I remember feeling like Christmas Eve fit in the category of it's own holiday because of how special my family made it...

Anyhow, if you're wanting to create your own slew of family traditions, I'd highly recommend adding this wassail recipe into the mix.  It's delicious and warm and makes your whole house smell like Christmas.

Ingredients:

1 64 oz. apple juice or cider
1 64 oz. cranberry juice (low cal or regular)
1 large can frozen unsweetened orange juice
1 tsp. allspice
3-6 sticks cinnamom
1 peeled orange, studded with cloves
1 orange, sliced for serving

Directions:
Combine everything in a crock pot and simmer for hours-the longer the better! Ladle wassail into cups and serve with orange slices.


Mmmmm.... glory....

garland

Hopefully your day looks something like ours- it's snowing outside, all of our shopping and crafting is done and the base of the tree (well, the entire living room, really) is a mess of red and green and snowflakes and ribbons.  There isn't anything on the to-do list... Actually, I take that back.  I think we may go to a movie this afternoon, and I'm sure there are rounds of dominoes to be played this evening.  But nothing pressing.

I may actually do some just-for-fun crafting.  On December 23rd.  Crazy.  There are a few little tutorials I've been wanting to try out, and I'd been hoping to make a garland for our tree this year, but didn't get to it yet.

If your day is super laid back like mine, here are a few ideas for outfitting your tree (or house) with garland-y goodness:

I ADORE this fabric flower garland by oncewed... ADORE it, y'all

Oooh, isn't this tulle garland (by boutique cafe) gorgeous?  I don't have a serger, but I do have an abundance of tulle in my craft room... Hmmm....

Pom pom garland by one pearl button- lovely!

Supercute minigarland made from paintchips at oh dee doh

Classy pipe cleaner garland by kate at design*sponge

A decoration that can be filled with goodies? What could be better! Check out the tutorial here.

Felt square garland by dollar store crafts


This tutorial by maya*made shows how to craft a delightful, homemade advent calendar using toilet paper rolls and bits of fabric

*photos by respective sites

our stockings!

For those of you who are new friends, I love stockings.  I am a 'small gift' person by nature- even my Christmas list is filled with all sorts of little things instead of one 'big' present (as a totally random aside, my husband is at the other end of this spectrum, which makes us quite the pair as we buy gifts for each other...).  And stockings are one big package of small gifts.  That delights me.  Also, I sort of feel like stockings are a pretty sure bet in the world of present giving.  I can always think of little things that people will love but not buy for themselves, making these gems perfect candidates for the ol' stocking.

And, though this is probably obvious, I would choose handmade stockings over storebought stockings every time.

It's ironic, then, that it's taken me so darn long to make stockings for my family.  Last year I mentioned that my lack of action mostly had to do with fear of commitment- I would see these gorgeous stockings and think to myself, "but what if I made them and then didn't like them in 10 years?"  Once I got over that idea, and decided to just make stockings that I love right now with materials that I love right now, this little stocking-making task became much easier.

Anyhow, I feel like that's a lot of build up for pretty ordinary stockings.  But they're done!  And I couldn't be more thrilled! 

What about y'all?  Did you make your stockings?  Do you have certain things that you give/receive in your stocking every year?  Do you have an inordinately fond affection for stockings like me?

just for burke: a little christmas monkey business

Sitting under our tree right now is a stuffed monkey from build a bear for Burke... It's cute, and it makes monkey sounds, and it even has a white coat to match Adam's lab coat.  However, considering my little one's fond affection for monkeys and my fond affection for handmade goodness, I am wishing and wishing that I'd seen this tutorial a month or so earlier.  I think Burke would love this monkey business for Christmas.  Maybe next year?

Mikey Monkey by mmmmcrafts (there's a Molly Monkey version as well for you girly mamas)

kojotutorial: drawstring pajama bag from a button up shirt

We have a little tradition in our family of getting new pajamas each Christmas Eve.  Growing up, my mom had these fabric drawstring bags that we opened every year (in all of our heads, they will forever by 'the pj bags'). However, now that my siblings and I are all married, we each need drawstring pj bags of our own.  Add in a huge inheritance of Goodwill bound button up shirts from a friend and you have the perfect conditions for these little gems.

If you have a similar pajama tradition (or want to start one!), or if you're just wanting to make some fabulously repurposed wrapping from button up shirts you have on hand, grab:

-a ready-to-be-repurposed button up shirt

-ribbon

-a sewing machine

1. Cut off the button up shirt right under the arms.  Your remnant should look like a rectangle. Sew along the button line to ensure that your bag stays shut.

2. Flip the bag upside down and sew off your new 'bottom' (which would really be closer to the top if it were still a shirt... we're wanting to reserve the finished actual bottom edge for the drawstring casing to save ourselves a step).

3. Sew a drawstring casing in your open edge.  I like to iron my edge first to ensure that the casing is even.  To leave room for double ribbon openings, this meant that I didn't sew the entire casing shut, but left an opening on either side.  You could also finish the casing all the way around if you wanted- totally up to you.

4. Thread a ribbon through the opening(s).  Fill with pajamas.  Tie shut.  That's it! :)

Wait till you see what I did with the sleeves... ;)

kojotutorial: elmo ornament

I fully intended to make the pom pom elmo ornament... But then we were at a little get together where there was an ornament making table and where all of the supplies for this little elmo ornament knock off were on hand.  And before I knew it, we had an "Melmo" ornament to fuel burke's love for the furry little red guy.  Making the ornament was so simple that I thought I'd pass along the directions to y'all.  That way you, too, can make an elmo for your little one!

You'll need:

-a plain ornament

-red ribbon

-googly eyes

-a yellow pom pom (for the nose)

-a scrap of black felt (for the mouth)

-hot glue gun

I didn't take any pictures of the process, but I'm sure you'll be able to follow me.  

*Hot glue the end of your ribbon into the bottom center of your ornament.  Using your glue gun, wind the ribbon around and around (and around), gluing as you go.  When your entire ornament is covered in ribbon, glue your other end inside the top of the ornament (this will soon be covered by the metal ornament top).

*Glue your googly eyes, pom pom nose and felt mouth (as you can see, I didn't get to the mouth part yet... who knows if I will- haha!) onto elmo's 'face.'  

*Voila!  Sing to yourself, "la la la la, la la la la, elmo's world," because that darn song won't get out of your head.  Know that, weird song or no weird song, your little one will be DELIGHTED by their very own "Melmo" ornament!

stocking-y goodness

Our stockings are just about finished- can you believe it?  This will be our eighth Christmas that we've celebrated since we've been married, Adam and I, and I am just finally getting around to this.  Imagine what I'll accomplish by the time we've been married for sixteen years.  Maybe a tree skirt?  An advent calendar?  The possibilities are endless, really...

My own incompetence aside, I've seen all sorts of stocking-y goodness lately and thought I'd share some of it with y'all.

These elf stockings by sew4home are fabulous!

I LOVE the simplicity of these embroidered stockings by the Purl Bee... mod & classic at the same time!

The wool felt icicles on these stockings by Martha are fantastic (there's a link on the page to the knitted sequined stockings as well)!

This stocking-from-a-drop cloth by Shanty2Chic is both resourceful and gorgeous... and don't even get me started on the matching ruffle-y tree skirt.

I love these felt stockings by Women's Day... I feel like they have a classic-ness to them that gives them staying power (and if it takes me eight years to commit to one set of stockings, they'd probably better be around for a bit)

I'm second guessing myself after showing you all these beauties ("maybe I should've gone with an elf shape," and "oooh, perhaps I shouldn't have used wool"), but it's kind of too late for that now.  We're committed.  And I'll have some pictures for y'all soon.  Happy stocking-ing friends!

stash crafted wrapping paper snowman ornament

Isn't it funny how kids latch onto different things?  Last month, Burke was all about pumpkins.  Right now, he is enamored with snowmen.  He finds all the snowmen ornaments on every Christmas tree he sees, loves it when snowmen are part of Christmas cards, just can't get enough snowmen.  So my wrapping paper ornament is, of course, a snow man (you could do it with any symmetrical shape, though... even a symmetrical monogram like A or M).

To make a wrapping paper snowman ornament, you'll need:

-wrapping paper

-a symmetrical shape (I used circles and a symmetrical hat)

-glue

-ribbon

-a way to cut out your symmetrical shape (the obvious choice being scissors, but if you have punches or access to a diecut machine that you can use for this, it'll make it easier)

1. Punch or cut your shape from the wrapping paper.  I probably punched 20 of each size of circle, but only cut out 7 or 8 hats.

2. Fold all of your shapes in half on the line of symmetry.

3. Start gluing your halves together.  You'll eventually have a big stack of your shape folded in half and glued together.

4. Before completing your shapes by gluing your first piece and last piece together, glue a piece of ribbon through the center of your shape.

5. Then glue your shape(s) together and hang on your tree.  Stash crafted, snowman-y goodness for your one year old- done!

And that wraps up our stash crafted handmade holiday gift guide, y'all.  There are a couple of materials we didn't get to- maybe next year.  In the meantime, we have a few more things to show you before Christmas... stay tuned!

craft from the stash handmade holiday gift guide: wrapping paper

My stash of wrapping paper far exceeds any amount of gift wrapping that we could feasibly need to do in the next five years... and the paper itself is beautiful!  Why not put it to work making decor and gifts?

Oh how I love these wrapping paper placemats by Sunset magazine... I don't think you could give them as gifts, but you might be able to decorate for Christmas dinner with them.

I think you could make these little origami box lovelies with patterned paper as well, but the tutorial at origami instructions mentions using wrapping paper. I make my grandpa fudge every year- wouldn't this be the perfect packaging for such a gift?

I love these gift wrap coasters (tutorial at martha stewart). 

Recycled journals with wrapping paper covers (tutorial at design*sponge). I love the number of times it says, "or whatever you have" in the materials list. Fabulous.

Check out this wrapping paper wreath tutorial at Instructables.

This accordion scrapbook (tutorial at design*sponge) could be used as a mini photo album, or even as a recipe book.

**All images from websites listed.

white bliss

The last couple nights have consisted of watching The Holiday and Elf amidst wrapping paper and tags and buttons and a (hot) glue gun and tons of fluffy white ruffles... I thought I'd share a few of the little lovelies that have been crossed off my "to make before Christmas" list thanks to a couple of hours in front of the tv.
 
Up tonight- The Family Man.  I'm off to figure out what exactly I'll be creating during this viewing.  Do y'all do this to?  Craft and wrap gifts while you watch movies, I mean? And if so, any feel good movies I should add to my list?

stash crafted ribbon tree ornament

Still needing a way to use some of your ribbon stash?  This loop-y, ribbon-y tree ornament should do the trick.

To make it you'll need:

-a paper cone made from cardstock (I used kraft brown... you'll be able to see a little bit of the paper coming through even when the ornament is finished, so keep that in mind when you choose your paper)

-ribbon (I probably used about 10 yards in various patterns)... notice all of the martha stewart ribbon with $.99 clearance stickers- I told you, I have a problem

-a hot glue gun

1. Make a loop with a piece of ribbon, tie off and thread through the top of your paper cone.  This will be your ornament hanger.

2. Glue your first piece of ribbon to the top of the cone.

3.  Loop the ribbon over and hot glue to the paper cone. Repeat until you get to the bottom of the paper cone.  Then tuck the leftover 'tail' into the cone and glue down.

4. Keep making loopy ribbon lines until your tree is relatively covered.  When the top of the cone is covered with ribbon, start cutting to top of your ribbon into a "v" before you glue.  It looks cleaner that way.

5.  When you're finished covering the paper cone with lines of ribbon, wrap the top of your ornament in ribbon as well.  This will hide the unfinished part.

6. There are all sorts of option available to you from here- hang the ribbon-y tree as is, decorate the ribbon 'branches' with teeny ornaments or pom poms... a whole world of possibilities is open to you!  Enjoy!

kojodesigns handmade holiday gift guide: ribbon

I feel like I just keep telling y'all about the various things I buy compulsively- felt, patterned paper, and to round the list out, ribbon.  The dollar ribbon bin at Michael's is bad news for me, y'all.  It woos me, calls to me, forces me to sort through it and find ribbon-y gems.  Oh, and when the Martha Stewart grosgrain goes on sale, I'm in t-r-o-u-b-l-e.  Even if I can't conceivably think of something to do with it, I can't pass it up. 

Anyhow, this list of ribbon-y goodness will help those of you who hoard ribbon like I do to make a dent in your jars of ribbon.  Happy ribbon crafting, friends!

This peony clip by make it do would be fabulous alone as a brooch, or an addition to another handmade gift (think purses or stockings or Juju Shoes).

Don't you think that these ribbon ring (tutorial by Whrrl) would be terrific stocking stuffers?

I love the idea of recognizing people's fabulousness... these horseribbons (by design*sponge) would be a perfect way to do that!

I think that every girl on my Christmas list would love one of these jcrew-inspired ribbon necklaces by samster mommy!

I MUST make these little ribbon skirts (by just a betty trying to be martha) for my nieces...

Have y'all been following the So You Think You're Crafty challenges?  I have been!  This ribbon wallet was an entry by Lil Blue Boo a couple weeks ago... darling, right?

kojotutorial: felt book with repositionable shapes

 

My little one has a serious passion for books... in fact, his line up of Christmas gifts includes an ABC Book, A People We Love book, and this little felt book with repositionable felt animals and other shapes.

To make a felt book using your felt stash, you'll need:

-5 pieces of felt

-scraps of felt

-sewing machine

-2 sets of velcro closures

1.  Stack four pieces of felt.  Using a zigzag stitch, sew all four pieces together.

2. Cut your extra piece of felt into a small pouch to hold your felt shapes as well as an felt tab as a closure.

3. Sew the pouch into the 'back cover' of your soon-to-be book.  Also, sew your felt tab closure onto your felt book.  Use your velcro closures as the fastener for your pouch and as the fastener for your tab.

4.  Using your felt scraps, cut out shapes that your little one can reposition on the felt pages.

 

5. Cut out felt letters for your title.  Wrap up the book for your little one to open on Christmas morning.

stash crafted monogrammed felt christmas tree ornament

With a whole host of pregnant friends who are due in November in December, these ornaments have been perfect "baby's first Christmas" gifts.  The one pictured was for Baby Jack, born December 4th.

To make a monogrammed felt christmas tree, you'll need:
-two small pieces of felt (maybe 4x6ish each?)
-embroidery thread and needle
-brads
-ribbon
-2 small pom poms

1. Monogram a piece of green felt with an initial.  Cut both pieces of felt into our 'tree' shape (I used pinking shears and eyeballed a tree-ish shape).  Poke your brads through one of the layers in an ornament-y fashion.

2. Sew the two layers together (sew a ribbon in between the layers at the top of the tree).

3. Add the pom poms on both sides as a tree topper.

4. Use the monogrammed ornament as a baby's first Christmas ornament for baby Jack (or another 2009-born little one).