Happy New Year, All!

hope everyone's Christmas celebrations were as happy as mine! I had a ton of fun visiting family and enjoying the festivities. I've been sort of off the radar, but hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things.

Until then, I hope all your New Year's are happy and joyous! See you in 2010!!

Wrap it up!

The title applies to both the year and the few Christmas presents that I have left to wrap.

I love the cute gift wrap that you can buy at Target, but it really doesn't hold up well. But it's too late for this year's bunch. Next year, I'm just going to buy some heavy duty kraft paper, or use brown paper bags, and accent with the cute paper and bows. If only I remember during my Christmas frenzy in 2010!

Sadly, this should be my last post before the holidays, and I just might be able to squeeze one in before New Year's, but I can't make any promises.

But until then, I leave all you last minute wrappers with a little gift wrap inspiration, and a lot of FREE downloads!

Gift Wrap, Anyone?

• free printable gift wrap from Creature Comforts
• gift card wallets via Screen Prints
• fabric gift envelopes from Paper n Stitch
• monogrammed letter gift wrapping on Design*Sponge
• snowflake pillow boxes on Creature Comforts
• printable holiday packaging via How about Orange...

Bows and Tags

• a gift bow from a magazine via How about Orange...
• free printable gift tags via Creature Comforts
• brooches as bows on Bugs and Fishes
• bows from felt on Twig and Thistle
• adorable deer tags on Creature Comforts
• button tags and bows from Bugs and Fishes
• twist tie pom poms on Craftzine
• vintage photo gift tags from Nice package
• free gift tags via Creature Comforts

Holiday Cards

• free printable holiday cards via Creature Comforts
• another free printable on Creature Comforts

Something for Your Sweets

• a sweet holiday tag available on The Long Thread
• a goodie bag topper from Love.Obsess.Inspire.
• revamped hot chocolate mix from Lolly Chops

Ten and Counting...

With only ten days until Christmas-- Yay!!-- I thought I'd go ahead a share these before time runs out! I made these Christmas stockings a while back, but it's been so busy lately, that I hadn't gotten a chance to take photos.

The story is... I absolutely fell in love with a stocking set and tree skirt at Pier1, and since it was pretty simple materials, just felt, I thought, "why couldn't I make that?" So, I did!!

1 I drew up my pattern for the stocking and appliques-- I had to simplify a lot from what I had originally planned, but I think it looks better that way.

2 I cut out the pieces from felt and fleece, and the stocking are actually made from fleece, and glued them to the surface to keep them in place as I stitched the edges.

3 I stitched around the edge of the stocking, making sure to leave a half an inch edge. Then I scalloped the edges, just with my scissors, for a cute finishing touch!

4 The cuffs were just two rectangles the width of the top edge. I stitched the trim on first, then stitched them together, and stitched them on to the top, where I added a loop of ribbon at the side seam opposite the toe.

Sadly, the accompanying tree skirt that I had planned to make will not be joining us this Christmas. All that hand-stitching takes time.

I had also planned to put up a template of the design with this post, but it's not here. It'll be up sometime though!!

Deck the Halls

[left to right, top to bottom]1Design*Sponge 2Scissor Variations 3Scissor Variations 4Thompson Family Life
I've definitely been in the decorating mood. Not only have I made three adorable paper trees, but I've also got my tree up and decorated, and I made a wreath for the front door! I feel very on top of everything, which probably won't last very long.

But since I have a bit of free time, I did some searching. And I found some beautiful holiday decorations!! But I don't have enough energy to do all mine over again... So, this is for you:

• adorable, and quite retro, felt scalloped trees from Thompson Family Life
• ribbon-wrapped tealights on A Studio with a View
• a wrapped rope wreath--try saying that three times fast-- via Design*Sponge
• a retro-inspired holiday wreath from Cathie Filian
• hand-cut snowflakes on Make it Do
• a cute pine cone garland via Scissor Variations
• a crafty, thrifty wreath from a t-shirt on Smile and Wave
• an adorable paper Christmas wreath from The Read Thread
• this lovely bottle brush tree display from Scissor Variations
• and a pom-pom wreath tutorial via Twig & Thistle

Giveaway!!!

The lovely Tell love and chocolate is sponsoring a giveaway!!

The giveaway features adorable products from two different Etsy sellers, The Gilded Bee--a new favorite of mine-- and Pretty Tape. So... check it out!!