Gift Wrapping (Part 1)

Every year I try to get a little more creative with my gift wrapping.  Don't get me wrong... I use the easy bows just like everyone else.  But I like to go out of the box a little for some others.  It's very time consuming, or I'd probably do that all kind of funky.

Here are a few ideas for you to get started....

I did go ahead and use a bow for one of Little Man's gifts.

I "specialized" it by using a green bow.  Green is his favorite color.

I also learned a lesson last year... I've used only foil wrapping paper for the past few years.  Last year, I wrapped Little Man's gifts in that wrapping paper that is shiny on both sides.  He could not open it!!  It was awful.  I felt so bad.  It was taking him forever and he was getting a little annoyed.  This year I made sure to use actual paper wrapping paper.

I used bows for my nephew's gift.  He wouldn't have appreciated anything funky, but I did dress it up a bit by using more than one bow. (very me!)

My niece is getting a book and a gift card.  I wrapped the book and just did the typical bow thing.  However, I tried something different with the gift card.  I got a $1 tin from the dollar spot at target.  I put the gift card in and just threw some ribbon around it.  Plus, both the gift and tin are polka dot.  So cute!

This is my friend Laurie's box.

There is a gift in the wrapped box, and part of her gift is in the star.

I'm a big fan of zig-zagging the ribbon.

I picked up a few ornaments to use instead of bows.  This is my mom's gift.

(sorry about the pictures!  camera issues!!!)

I also got an ornament that was a picture frame.  I used the picture frame as the gift tag.

Snowflake paper, snowflake ornament, and snowflake ribbon.  Adorable.

This is my bosses gift.  I love this wrapping paper.  I splurged on it last year. 

The black part is actually felt.

I used some picks that I got from Michael's for 50% off.

I wrapped the bottom with ribbon and tied a bow.

More to come...

Away In a Manger - Casting Crowns

more about "Away In a Manger - Casting Crowns", posted with vodpod

Christmas Centerpiece

Remember this?

It got Christmafied.  (Yes, I made that word up)

I didn't want to do something traditional or predictable.

So I went with purple, green, and a garland that is that color in between silver, gold, and bronze.

Originally I wasn't going to replace the candles, but I found these purple ones that matched what I was already gathering and grabbing in the aisles of Michael's.  I didn't want to have to buy 9 candles, so I filled two of the vases with garland, pinecones and ornaments.

 

 

Since I was asked to see the other side last time, I took pictures from all angles.

 

 

 

Still waiting for that new house, with a formal dining room, with the new dining room table to put it on.

So annoyed

Pardon the interruption... I am going to take a break from "regularly scheduled blogging" to vent.  I am SO ANNOYED right now. 

As many of you know, we live in a condo.  As many of you also know, I have a phobia of cats.  Well, in this lovely condo community that I live in, both my neighbors have decided that it is a good idea to have a cat.  Not only do they have a cat (yuck), but they allow their cats to be outside.  One cat (Brutus) is out quite a bit.  For some reason, both of these cats find my front steps the best place to be.  Really?  Really?  Is it because you know I loathe you?  Why?  Go sit on your own darn stairs.  Go meow to someone else.  I personally think it's one of the worst sounds in the world.  I think I'd even rank it worse than nails on a chalkboard.

I understand everyone is entitled to have whatever the heck pet they want, but why would you live in a condo and have a cat that is outside more than it's inside.  I just find it to be incredibly rude.

Many times now I have been literally stuck because the darn cat won't move.  It's not jumpy... it doesn't care if I stomp, yell, honk the car horn... it just stares at me.  *sigh*  This past summer I was actually stuck inside my own home.  How terrible is that?  I unassumingly opened the door, and there is Brutus charging right towards me.  I screamed at the top of my lungs (hello--PHOBIA), slammed the door as fast as I could, and called Michael.  My hands were honestly shaking and my eyes watering.  He told me to get a water bottle and spray it.  Before I did that, I banged on the door (didn't move), repeatedly opened the door a crack and slammed it shut hard (didn't budge), and yellowed at it through the window (didn't move).  The water finally worked.

Other times he is sitting on my stairs and I can't get UP to my front door.  Sometimes I have to call Michael from the car to have him get it away.

Last night I came home and was walking some trash to the dumpster.  All of the sudden I hear a little jingle jingle.  Brutus is running at me.  I start yelling no and to go away.  He still keeps coming.  I stomp.  I scream "shoo" and finally he takes off.  However, he quickly returned to me once I was back at my car.  He wouldn't move again.  He was right beside my stairs and sat there.  Michael wasn't home, so I just had to keep yelling.  Nope.  Not moving.  I started to try to walk up the stairs and he ran in front of me and blocked my path.  I screamed at full force.  Finally I started kicking the railing.  He would move a little, but was still waiting around.  It took me forever to get in my front door.  I was so mad.  Did the neighbors not hear me screaming and kicking?  I am calling the condo association today to file a complaint.  I should not be stalked by the neighbors cat.  I should be able to get in and out of my condo freely.

I also get so annoyed when people tell me that I "haven't met their cat" and "but they are so friendly".  It's a phobia people.  Why don't I take your phobia and force you to face it daily?  What is it?  Heights?  Let's sky dive.  Snakes?  Let's wrap one around your body.  Spiders?  Let's put some on your arm to crawl on you.  I don't want to meet your cat.  I don't want to hear your cat.  I don't care how friendly you think it is.  I have a fear.  That's the point.

Can you tell I'm a little heated about this?  ugh............

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree...

Back when I was teaching, my room moms would come in and throw a Christmas party for my students.  Usually that consisted of some sort of craft, a snack, and some games.  One year we made a Christmas tree out of craft sticks.  It looked very similar to the one pictured above, except with green popsicle sticks glued together.  I cut the pieces out of construction paper and let Little Man glue them on.  As you see, they ended up a little crooked, but I think that actually makes it look cuter.  He used a sponge to add a star to the top and glued on large glittery sequences I found in the cabinet. 

(NOTE: This project is from last year, which is why you can see a few glue spots with missing sequence.)

Card

I made this card for my bosses.  It was sort of a Thanksgiving day card and sort of a Thank You card.  It could be used for any occasion.  So cute! (if I do say so myself)

Garland Tree

Remember "craft day"?  Well, I made myself a tree.  While perusing the aisles of Jo Ann's, I found this garland that I really liked.

It's the really neat color... not quite silver, not quite gold.

It was on sale for $5, and I knew it would make a perfect tree.

I picked up one of these for $3.

Ok, I'll be honest. I really, really, really wanted to cover it with a red feather boa I found.  I would have looked a-maze-ing.  Unfortunately, I would have needed at least two feather boas and they were $7 a piece.  That's not quite a deal.  I wanted to do a craft to save money.  So I carried on with the flower garland.

I brought it home and popped all the little flowers off of the garland.  It was really easy.  Sorry.  I was so in "craft mode" that I forgot to take pictures of this.

Then I just added a little hot glue to the ends of the flowers and inserted them into the cone one at a time.

(Please excuse the mess in the background.  It was craft day afterall.)

The finished product...

I love it!