Quick and Easy Idea for Wrapping Gift Cards...

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a quick and cute way to wrap a gift card for the holidays or any occasion really. Gift cards are the perfect gift for someone who is hard to buy for or a great little stocking stuffer for little treats the recipient can use after the holidays.

When I give gift cards to my kids I always try to wrap it special, so it's like a present to open. The best way to wrap a gift card from restaurants or fast food chains is to ask for a container from that store.

This year our favorite new spot in town is an Orange Leaf frozen yogurt shop. The kids still go during the cold winter days. Perfect gift card idea!

Come on in and see how cute the packaging is!!!

Framed Chalkboard Fabric...

Hi everyone! You know I love thrift store finds and frames are one of the best buys. I found 2 large frames for $3.50 each and I knew they would be great for the chalkboard signs I wanted to make. The large sized frames are perfect to fill up wall space, so I wanted to use them for my Christmas party.

Here are the 2 frames and you won't believe how easy they were to make…with FABRIC!!!

Yes, chalkboard fabric.

These frames took no time to make!!

Easy Christmas Candy Wreath...

Hi everyone. So sorry I have been missing in action for a whole week. I've been decorating like crazy since Thanksgiving getting the house ready for the holidays and for my Christmas party that was this past Sunday! It was the best time ever.  Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year and sharing the holidays with friends and family is what the season is all about.

Before I begin this post, I want to say thank you to everyone who emailed me to see if I was ok. So sweet of you to think of me. This is just one more reason why I love blogging…such caring people from all over the world!

One of the projects I made while decorating was a candy wreath for a little area at the top of our stairs. It's a little nook where a have my candy themed tree and the wall next to the tree looked bare. I used a mirror that I wasn't using anymore and spelled the word Joy and the "O" is the wreath! The mirror has hooks so it was perfect for hanging things.

Here's the finished wreath!

Come on in to see how fast and easy this was to make…

Easy Christmas Kitchen Decoration...

Hi everyone! If you love a simple look for Christmas in your kitchen or if there is Christmas all over your home and you just want to add something small , here's an easy project.

Christmas trees in your canister set!

I know, silly, but it does add a little holiday to your kitchen which usually gets passed over in the decoration department.

Come in for the details!

Make Your Own Glittered Pine Cones...

Hi everyone…I've been busy all week decorating getting ready for my big Christmas party next weekend. When I'm finished with the whole house, I'll post my annual Christmas House Tour.

For now, I wanted to share an easy project to make your own glittered pine cones. I wanted another natural element for my sugared fruit tree and I knew I wanted pine cones. However, the tree is sparkly an plain pinecones wouldn't do, so off to the store I went. I couldn' find just glittered pine cones. There was always something added to the decorative floral pick…some little ornament or flower or a colored ribbon. I just wanted glitter pine cones.

So I decided to make my own…

If you missed the sugared fruit tree post, you can click HERE

Come on in for the "how to".

Must Have Tools For Christmas Decorating...

Hi everyone! I'm in full mode Christmas and wanted to share my favorite things I use when decorating of the holidays.

When you're decorating the tree, hanging wreaths, wrapping evergreen garland around your front porch or just adding that special touch to your home, you need a few essentials to help along the way.

If you have these things with you as you're roaming around the house decorating, it will help to keep you organized and make your life easier.

Come on in and see my favorites…

Re-Use Decorations…Sugared Fruit Hydrangea Christmas Tree

Let the decorating begin!!! I have been collecting decorations for all of my adult life. I always shop throughout the year for different things to use for Christmas and I definitely shop after Christmas sales. My favorite way to decorate the house is to "re-use" things I already have, but in a different way!

For the past few years, I have always used my collection of sugared fruit at the end of the railing of our staircase. I've had all this fruit for years and years and add to it from thrift stores or consignment shops.

Here is a picture of the stairs…

Here is the tree I finished this morning with all the fruit used for ornaments.

Come in and see how I used dried hydrangea for filler!

Organize Your Holiday Dinner or Party...

Hi everyone! This is a very busy holiday season coming up and I wanted to share a few tips that I use all the time when I host holiday parties. Many of you have emailed from Thursday's post and asked how we serve 35-40 people for thanksgiving and this is my secret!

Whether you have a dinner party for 4 or 40, the key to everything is…lists, lists and more lists. If you write things down and check things off, any party or dinner you have will run smoothly. Another favorite of mine is the clipboard. Keeps all those list in one place and handy to write on. I actually file last year's list underneath on the same clip board to remind me of things.

Come on in and see if these tips and lists will work for you too!

Cordless Lights for Christmas Village...

I started collecting my Department 56 Dickens Village in 1987. I've received so many beautiful pieces as gifts over the years, I love each and every one. I don't collect them any more, but they are one of the favorite things I put out each year. It wouldn't be Christmas until the village is up.

Here are a few places where I've set up the village the past few years…

China hutch

Bookcase

This past Christmas, I divided up the set and placed them in smaller vignettes.

under one of the trees in our bedroom.

and on top of the armoire.

My biggest pet peeve of the whole village…the cords.

Come on in to see an easy solution.

Seashell Christmas Tree…Thrift Store Find

Lucky for me, my two daughters love to go thrifty to find that perfect treasure. We love to go shopping together, but the girls have gone thrifting at consignment shops and thrift stores near their university.

Kelsie came home this past weekend and stopped by one of our favorite shops on the way and this is what she found!!

Kelsie and her roommates have a beach theme in their dorm apartment, because the university is right on the water. This tree is perfect for the holidays coming up!

Come on in for detailed pictures. This might be an easy one for you to make too!!

Recycling…Spool of Thread Garland

Hi everyone.  I think about Christmas all the time, especially tree decorating ideas. Garlands seem to be the theme for me lately! This week, I want to share another garland idea and it's a recycling project for everyone who sews!

A spool of thread garland with lots of buttons...uses up lots of scrap fabric too!!

I so wish I would have saved all the empty spools of thread that I've thrown out over the years!!

Organizing...Labeling Plastic Containers

Hi everyone! Labeling is pretty much a way of life at my house. Labeling things makes it easier for everyone to find something and keeps the house organized and sane!! I label just about everything. If you sit long enough when you're visiting, you might end up with a label stuck on you too!

Large plastic tubs or containers are my nemesis for labeling though. I usually keep the containers in the attic or our unfinished basement, so heat and moisture are the issue. I store everything in plastic containers from Christmas decorations, college dorm stuff, blankets, seasonal items etc.

To identify what's in the containers, I've used printable labels, masking tape and even written directly on the plastic box. However, none of them worked. The labels fall off from the temperature change and writing on isn't good when I want to use the box for something else at another time.

Here's my new solution I came up with this past weekend.

Three of my favorite things...badge holders, binder clips and zip ties.

This is an easy and simple way to label any box or container.

Cereal Christmas Tree Ornaments...

Hi everyone!! Yesterday's post about the marshmallow cereal garland was so popular just in one day...there were so many hits!! Thanks for stopping by. I have another project that I was going to share later on, but thought I would share it back to back with the garland post.

Here are 2 cute cereal ornaments to match your garland...

Easy project for you or your kids...

Marshmallow Christmas Tree Garland...

Hi everyone! I'm starting another Christmas decorating project early. I need a garland for my candy themed tree.

Here's the tree from last year. It's in the landing at the top of our stairs. It's full of things I've collected on sale each Christmas in the "Sweets" theme, but I wanted to add more...

Like a fun cereal and marshmallow garland.

Come on in and see the cute garland you can make too!!

Tool Time Tuesday...Sandpaper Gingerbread Ornaments

Hi everyone! Welcome to another Tool Time Tuesday. This time we are in the paint section of the hardware store...for sandpaper!!

I start thinking about Christmas and decorating the house for the holidays in the summer. I have lots of projects, decorations and fun things I make for the Christmas, so I need to start early. I have a theme tree with gingerbread men that I haven't used in a few years, because I need more things to decorate it. I would rather make a lot of the items than buy them, so that's where today's tutorial comes in.

Sandpaper Gingerbread People...

I wanted a fast and easy way to make "gingerbread" and this was it...no recipe or baking required! Lol

Fillable Glass Christmas Ornaments...Great Gift Idea

Hi everyone! I know what you're thinking...Christmas in September? Well, it's never too soon to start making little gifts or to make decorations for your own tree.

For me, I think about Christmas pretty much all year long, but definitely from September on. I've learned over the years that doing projects early, even the small ones, can be so helpful.

These ornaments are one of those projects.

Fillable clear glass ornaments...use them as a gift in itself or as the "holder" of the gift.

You can buy clear glass ornaments in most craft stores and online too. I bought these at Michael's Craft Store. They're on sale this week too, 40% off!!

I made a new friend with one of the wonderful ladies who works at the Michael's in my town. Hi, Lois!! It was nice to meet you...you made my day by the way. Lol

There are so many things you can put in these ornaments...come on in and see!

Tool Time Tuesday...Graduation Tassel Ornament

Hi everyone!! In honor of all graduates this month and next month, I wanted to share an idea I saw on Pinterest. I wish I could share a link to the original post, but the pin was of just the picture. There is another website with the same photo as Pinterest, but they only refer to Pinterest as the source. If anyone knows the original website where this came from let me know...I would love to give them credit.

I just love this idea so much, I am going to dig through the girls' souvenir boxes and pullout their high school tassels too.

It will be so nice to have these hanging on the Christmas tree instead of having the tassels packed away in a box.

These were Courtney's tassels from Saturday...one for graduating and the white for honors.

These are so quick to make up...pop in to see how easy.

Storing Wreaths...

Hi everyone! I know it's Sunday and it should be the weekly Sew Darn Crafty Linking Party, but I've had problems with the linking service I use. Not sure if it's at their end or mine, but it's playing havoc with things, so thought I would skip it this week and let the bugs go away.

I'm still putting away Christmas things around the house. It takes me some time, because I organize and clean as I go. I wanted to share one idea with you for storing wreaths.

Christmas Home Tour 2012...

Christmas is the most special time of year and I love decorating for the season. I start decorating the Friday after Thanksgiving and go straight for 2 weeks. We have a huge party for all the ladies in our neighborhood, friends and family!! It's the most fun and festive time to see everyone each year.

Decorating for Christmas is like a hobby for me. I start thinking about next year's Christmas on december 26th. Where do I start?...the after Christmas sales this year. I always buy things on clearance...never full price. I bring the decorations home, organize them and find a place for them, so I know where they are next year. I change things up, move things to different rooms, so it feels like I have new things each year.

Let's start this year's tour from the front door  and end at the back door...

Last year I had the Snowman wreath on the front door, but this year I just have a wreath and some decorations off to the side.

Quick Christmas Decorating Tip...

I wanted to share a quick and easy Christmas decorating project that uses things you might have around your house!!

A bowl full of Christmas Cheer...