Brown paper packages

I intentionally left my gift wrapping to the last minute, because I try to find things to do on Christmas morning as I’m alone (my kids are with their father until dinner time).

Over the year, I save every little bit of ribbon that I get and throw it in to a box. I really like the look of brown kraft paper to wrap gifts in, so that is what I used.

I pulled out ribbon, baubles, ornaments and embroidery thread to embellish each of these gifts.  Frugal and environmentally friendly as most things are recycled.

This has been a pretty tough year. I definitely didn’t participate in the camaraderie of blogging as much as usual. After the passing of my sister on Jan. 1st, both of my parents became ill. Currently they are both in the hospital, unfortunately two different ones. It is an odd Christmas without my sister and even odder that my parents aren’t in their home.

Well, enough of the maudlin words, I have a turkey to get in to the oven, then I will pick up my kids and bring them home. I can’t wait! :)

Merry Christmas and here’s hoping to a wonderful new year.

A quilters sign

My sister in law makes the most fabulous quilts. I wanted to come up with a frugal gift that was meaningful and this is what I made.

I cut the letters out of black vinyl and the needle out of gold vinyl. I attached some twine with hot glue, right through the needle head.

I think she will love it.

My Christmas tablescape

Since I don’t have a lot of festive decorating going on, I decided to put some effort into my tablescape.



Indulge me while I show you the details.

I used paint chips to make some Christmas trees that I wrapped around the napkin/cutlery.



Guess who’s coming for dinner? lol. Not “the” Madonna, just my newfie mother-in-law. The place cards are also paint chips.



These pretty paper trees were made with a pattern found at http://ninuskan.blogspot.fi/2010/12/pitsinen-paperikuusi.html



Hanging from my chandelier is the kissing ball I made last Christmas



My goal was to keep it simple and natural with a hit of bling. Mission accomplished.



I opted out of putting up my big tree this year, instead using a table top tree.



And I used last years wreath on my coffee table, blinged out with some glittery snowflakes.



I even used paint chips as gift tags for some simple gift wrapping.



I am off of work until January 7th!  Woo Hoo!  I think it’s been over 7 years since I had this much time off in a row, in fact not since I went back to work after being a stay at home mum.

I wish you all a joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Craft #6 – Scrabble tile gifts

I have a lot of scrabble tiles that were given to me from people at work. I decided to use them to make a gift for my BF and her family.

Their names worked out perfectly!  And coincidentally their son (Austin) whose name fits in with their dad is so much like him, and their son (Raffi) is so much like his mum and his name fits in with hers!  What are the chances.

The mason jars were wrapped in burlap, I added some tiles to spell comfort and joy, some epsom salts and a tealight candle.  I added some greenery too.







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