It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

So my advent calendar is getting very full, and my countdown is down to single digits.  I can't believe Christmas is just 4 days away!  Yikes!  I hope you are ready...I am close...very, very close.

Anyway, I thought I'd give you a peak at my Christmas decor:

Mantel #1

Coat Hanger/Shelf:

 Simple circle garland {scrapbook paper, inked edges, sewn together}

 Advent Calendar {Even my 1-yr old LOVES when it is her turn to pick the magnet for the day}

 Mangel #2

 Little yarn pom-pom garland:

 The stockings were hung...

A little closer look at my newest sign for the year:

I am loving it!  I just love this time of year!  Merry, Merry Christmas!

Little Birdie Ornaments

I wanted to make some ornaments to hand out with Christmas goodies to friends and neighbors, and since I seem to have a thing for birds, I knew this Pinterest find was PERFECT!

You want to make some of your own?  They were actually pretty easy!  Grab some burlap & contrasting fabric scraps, pick some ribbon or jute, find a bird template online & get started!

It is pretty self explanatory, so my instructions will be simple:

1--Cut bird shaper out of 2 layers of burlap

2--Cut a wing out of contrasting fabric

3--Stamp Christmas words (joy, love, noel, wish) onto the wings.  I used a metal stamp set and just used regular ink and it worked just fine.

4--Sew wing onto one layer of bird.

5--Place birds right-sides together, inserting a little ribbon in-between the layers to act as the hanger.

Done and done!  Don't you just love easy little projects!

Merry Christmas!

12 Day of Christmas {EASY & Do-able}

I am so excited.  Every year growing up, my family selected another family to do the 12 Days of Christmas.  Basically, each day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas we delivered a fun little gift.  The gifts aren't anything crazy or big--very do-able, but it was such a fun way to spread the Christmas spirit in December.

So this year will be the FIRST year that my little family will do our own 12 Days of Christmas.  I think it will be so fun to have my kids involved--Helping with the gifts, knocking, running, and hopefully not getting caught!  I am hoping they will start to learn the true meaning of Christmas and how much fun it is to do the GIVING!

Anyway, I made simple little tags that I will glue onto cuter Christmas paper.  But, I wanted to share so you too can start this fun & easy tradition!

Here is a link to download the file!

And just to give you a quick look, here is page one of the two-page document:

First Delivery...success!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry & Bright I-Phone Wallpaper

Here is a new I-Phone Wallpaper for the Christmas season for anyone interested!  I hope you like it!

Here are the quick steps:
1--Save the image
2--If on your computer, email the file to yourself so you can access the image on your phone
3--Open the email on your phone.  Click on the little arrow button on the bottom (2nd from right)
4--Select "Save Image"
5--Open up your Photo Album, and select the new image
6--Click on the bottom left arrow button
7--Click on "Use as Wallpaper"
8--Stretch to fit your phone
9--Select to have it for your home page, lock screen, or both.  I just use it as my lock screen.

Done and Done!  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Decor

I love Christmas time--a time centered on Jesus Christ, our Savior.  It is great to be able to decorate my house reminding me of His birth.  Of course, we have to throw in a little Santa too!

Merry Christmas and happy decorating!

Baby Girl Needed a Stocking!

With a new baby born into our family this year, I needed to dig through my fabric to find my "Christmas Stocking" fabric.  I had just enough to cut out one more stocking.  I guess that means we need to be done having kids.  Hehe.  Or I'll just have to hope I can find a match.

I keep my stockings pretty simple.  Just some red and cream felt, a little embroidery floss, and some love!  Here is what little miss Reese gets:

 And here are all of them hanging waiting for Santa:

19 days...

The countdown has begun.  It's hard to believe only 19 days until Christmas--kind of crazy!  Here is how we do our countdown and advents at our house:

 I use my same "Thankful" frame, only this time I hang the countdown.

Pretty easy...just some scrapbook paper & a little distressing ink.  

Now the Advent Calendar:

 This is my version of the Dollar Store cookie sheet.  I painted it, Mod Podged some paper.  Then I made a grid--one rectangle per day and labeled the date--just like a calendar.  

 I used various Christmas items--stickers, chipboard, ornaments--anything I could find that was about the right size.  Simply add a little magnet, then each day my kids take turns picking the item to go on the calendar for that day.  

 It won't be long and this will all be full!  Christmas will be here before we know it!

Happy Countdown to Christmas!

Simple Ornaments

Each year I make ornaments for my kids.  Usually I am kind of scrambling to get them done by Christmas Eve.   However, this year I beat the rush {amazingly}.  I saw some similar ornaments on Pinterest.  Here they are:

Pretty simple.  A little felt cut into varying sized circles.  Hand-stitching on a few of the circles.  Hot Glue it all together and add some stretchy cording (or ribbon, twine, jute, etc).
You've gotta love Christmas time!
 (Oh, and I am currently loving Sarah McLachlan-Holiday station on Pandora--just in case anyone was wondering)