Thursday, December 29, 2011

Wrap it up Thursday - New Year Crackers

1. Delish  2. Absolutely Crackers via Christmas Cracker Blog 3. Carloyns Homework 4. Pinecone camp via Poppytalk



There's nothing like a new year cracker to get the party started.  You still have time to put something together if you are so inclined.  I really love the fabric and twine one created for Poppytalk.








I think this year I might go for something different.  This cupcake was inspired by one created by my friend Amy Powers (see here)  I don't know if the girls will go for it. They like the snap sound.  I'll let you know.  



Happy New Year !!!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A New Year Celebration

Champagne and Icy Blue for a New Year





I love this icy blue and champagne combination.  (Even though these are all different sources - some coming from a couple of years ago!)  That blue is my favourite - and it seems to work as a colour story for decorating around a new year .




First Picture :   The lovely garlands are from Martha Stewart.  

Second Picture :  I think I might make a version of these clocks - too cute and I love medallions!

Third Picture :  I would love to be at this party!


We usually celebrate with a pot luck and a fire on the beach.  But to bed early - my crazy family is in a New Year's Run!


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Wrap it up Thursday - Kraft Paper and Red


Wrapping up tradition -
Kraft paper and red accents



First Row - left to right  - Sweet Paul (photo by Frances Janisch), a creative mintcreature comforts
Second Row - left to right - flickr (patchwork pottery),  a creative minthow about orange
Third Row - left to right - Whipperberryangel at my table,  achica living


Well if you celebrate Christmas - it all comes to a close in the next few days and in keeping with tradition I've created a collage with tried and true red.  What makes these combinations more current is the use of kraft paper as a backdrop.  I just love how Leslie Shewring (top centre photo), of A Creative Mint, uses a simple grocery bag as wrapping.  There is something so beautiful about a simply wrapped gift. 

 If you still need to wrap a few- grab some paper grocery bags, red yarn and a candy cane ...
 and go to town!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Color Inspiration Part Two

Holiday Inspiration from Knitting a Sock







 You may recall that knitting a sock inspired me to go with a color inspiration of pink and green.  I must say it has taken some time for me to put it together.  And I am not sure I will stick with it every year but I did have fun doing something different.


I came across these amazing snow globe cloches featured in Poppytalk and I was drawn to the cover of Heather Sprigg's Gatherings Gift Guide cover and its yarn wrapped branches.  I just grabbed what I had at home - a bell jar, my yarn and some branches I usually keep in the basement...oh, and some styrofoam for the glittered tree and one to shave into snow for the bell jar.

It created a bit of a mini winterland - just above my fireplace.






A good spot to curl up and finally finish my other sock...

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Wrap it up Thursday - Teacher Gifts Part Two




You may recall from this post that I had hoped this year to have all my teacher gifts organized well in advance but I kind of think that isn't going to happen.  Well at least we know know what we are putting in.  Homemade marshmallows and caramels (find recipes here and here) Homemade Hot cocoa - our own recipe here. A sweet little battery operated votive and a cute mini cupcake.  The one I have ordered has a little snowman with earmuffs but it won't be ready until next week so the blue one is sitting in for the snowman.



 I have a lovely cupcakery at the bottom of our street and that is where I will get my special cupcakes and where I was able to get the plain, white bakery boxes.  The little tins are magnetic and can be used for craft supplies, spices or desk supplies when the hot cocoa is used up.  I continued making pom poms as I did here (Creature Comforts) to top off our teacher gifts.  

I will try to update this post with a snowman cupcake photo when he arrives - he's that cute.

Since I needed so many teacher gifts there is really nothing too large in the package.  I think the sweet labeling helps take it up a level - information on downloads can be found in yesterday's post. 
(Food labels Creature Comforts, outside labels Eat, Drink, Chic and Love vs. Design)




It's just a small way to say thank you to each of them for all their hard work.  However... someone please remind me that next year we are going to say thank you with a packaged candle and card ... I always seem to forget...

UPDATE - Here are the snowman cupcakes! :)

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Hot Cocoa and the race to finish!



Well things are ramping themselves up ... why is it that? ... every year, no matter how hard I think I have things under control and ready ahead of time - it always seems to be a panic.

Time for some tried and true gifts for teachers and last minute holiday visits.

After some tweaking and combinations, here is one we have done for teachers many times before.



Hot Cocoa for Gifting


1 and 1/2 cups of milk powder
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup crushed chocolate or mini chips


Optional:
cinnamon
crushed candy canes
vanilla bean


This should make enough for about 3 jars for gifts.  So double or triple for multiple gift giving.


Directions on gift label : 
Place 3 tablespoons of mix into mug with boiling water or hot milk.  Add a marshmallow and enjoy!




This year I am going to add some kind of fun tag - and there are so many great (free! downloadable!) ones to choose from.  Here are a few picks from this year and years' past.


1   Eat, Drink, Chic     2/3   Studio of Mae via Gifted (Creature Comforts)     4/5    Creature Comforts 

6  Orange you Lucky         7/8    Eat, Drink Chic          9  Love vs.  Design





I plan to get to work this afternoon and see how much I can get through.  You know ... before things really, really ramp up!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wrap it up Thursday - Decorating with Pom Poms



After decorating gifts with nests I wanted to do something different.  Maybe finish up my teacher gifts but I am still gathering supplies.  So here is another bird inspired gift.  This is for a friend who is celebrating a significant birthday.  She plans on taking a very personal spiritual journey after the holidays and so I thought it would be nice to give her a journal to take along.  I added a feather pen, a blue crystal pencil and a blue watercolour pencil.  All inspired by the Thomas Paul slipcovered journal and the wonderful robin's egg blue that lines the inside covers.




I guess you could say that this is wrapping without the wrapping.  The book itself is so lovely I couldn't bear to cover it up.  I was completely inspired by Ez's pom pom video tutorial at Creature Comforts.  And she is definitely right ... those pom poms are the cutest after a haircut. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Holiday Color Inspiration


Color Inspiration



Right after I finished my nest wrapping last week my computer started to act strangely.  The next day I found out my hard drive had crashed and everything was lost. (of course... 2 months past my one year coverage)  I had been backing up my computer but because I had moved its location this fall things had changed and I didn't have a proper back up since mid-September.  All my blog photos gone and so much more.  Lucking first day of school was the last back up.  But I did lose halloween.  

Well what is a girl to do when she is totally bummed out.  Knit of course.  Back to thick, cabled sock knitting - it is so therapeutic.  When you begin with the heel you need a contrast yarn color and I chose hot pink.  Well I loved its combination with my thick green yarn and now I have decided on my holiday colors.  I know ... a little late to start but better late than never.  I remembered these little glittered birds from a local shop and now I have a direction. We'll see what I can come up with over the next few days.

Now ... back to teacher gift wrapping part two...

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Wrap it up Thursday - Nest of Yarn - Gift Topper



You may remember my tutorial on making felt flower rings.  Well I have been busy crafting a whole group of them to give to friends as gifts.  My friend Shelley appreciates thoughtful wrapping so I decided to get creative.



I found some gorgeous turquoise velvet ribbon and thick cream wool, on spools at Anthropologie.  I knew I wanted to use them for something special.






I took a circle of card stock and began adding a strand of cream and a strand of taupe yarn, anchored with a glue gun.  I build the nest up with circles of yarn, continuing to glue,  and finally added a few strands in the center for my eggs.  The eggs are from a collection including store bought and hand felted.  Once I added the eggs I finished up the nest by building up yarn around the eggs.


I took three of the felt rings that I thought Shelley would like and added them to some thick kraft paper to fit in the box.  I made an x-acto knife cut, to fit them into the paper.  I used that same paper to make a tag and added a grommet to finish off the tag.





 Okay ... one present finished.  I better get cracking :)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...