Christmas Wrappings 2017

I know Christmas seems like a long time ago now, but I still wanted to get my 2017 Christmas wrappings up on the blog.  I love wrapping presents and try to go with a different theme every year.  This year I added navy to the mix.  I've never considered navy for the holidays before, but I really love how the navy pairs with red and green.

I only bought one new roll of paper this year - the pretty navy blue pattern in the photo below.  It is a Tommy Bahama brand wrapping paper that I found at Homegoods.  It almost has a vintage feel to it.  Everything else I used was from my stash....I'm a bit of a wrapping paper and supply hoarder.

Here's a photo I posted to Instagram:

I love using initials as gift tags.  I buy wood or chipboard initials and then cut a patterned piece of paper to fit and glue on.  I think it's fun to use instead of a traditional gift tag.

I love initial stickers too - just slap one on a tag and you are good to go!

I also like to buy floral picks at the craft store.  They are inexpensive and really add so much to your packages.  Just tie a pretty bow, and slide in one of the floral picks - easy and beautiful! 

And just so I don't forget it, here is my 2017 Christmas Tree...

Handmade Holidays: Christmas Stove-top Potpourri + Free Printable

Happy Monday!  Can you believe that Christmas is this week?  I can't!  It doesn't help that we've had incredibly mild temperatures and no snow on the ground.  In fact, we've only had one snowfall so far this year and the snow only lasted a couple of days before it warmed up and melted. I'm not complaining - dry roads and above average temps are OK by me!

I made a batch of Christmas Stove-top Potpourri this weekend to hand out to family and friends.  I think they make a great last minute gift for neighbors, work friends, and hostess gifts.  Also, who wouldn't enjoy a house filled with the scents of Christmas!

Because of our mild temps, my rosemary plant in the garden is still going strong!  It's actually huge.  I was able to pick a large amount of sprigs to use for the stove-top potpourri.  Hard to believe for the end of December!

Supplies:

- Quart size mason jars

- 2 cinnamon sticks

- 3 bay leaves

- 1 tablespoon dried orange peel

- 1 tablespoon whole cloves

- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries

- 1-2 sprigs of fresh rosemary

- 1 cup fresh cranberries

- 1 lemon

- 1 clementine or orange (an orange might be hard to fit in the jars, so I used clementines)

- Ribbon

- Labels ( PRINT HERE )

Please note - the amounts listed above are what I added to one jar.  Multiply the amount by the number of jars you'd like to make.

Add the bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, cloves, allspice berries, followed by the rosemary, cranberries, and finally, the citrus fruit.

Close up the jars and add a decorative ribbon and labels.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Handmade Holidays: DIY Christmas Card Holder

This year I wanted a better way to display my Christmas cards.  Normally I place them all in a basket and keep it out throughout the holidays, but they are all too pretty not to see! I love how this simple holder turned out and I'm looking forward to seeing all my cards on display this year.

Supplies:

- Wood boards (size of your choice - I used 1 x 2 boards)

- Chicken wire

- Spray paint (if desired, for chicken wire)

- Saw and miter box

- Hammer

- Wood glue

- Wire clippers / cutters

- Paint or stain (color of your choice for boards)

- Finish nails

- Sand paper

- Staple gun & staples

Directions:

1.  Use a saw and miter box to cut boards to length of your choice with 45 degree ends.  My finished card holder is 36" long x 17" h.

2.  I used finish nails and a little wood glue at each corner to attach the boards together.  I'm sure there is a better way, but this worked for me!  Use sand paper to smooth each board and prep for painting.  Paint and set aside.

3.  Use wire clippers to cut chicken wire to size.  I wanted to make the chicken wire stand out a bit and look a little fancier than the plain silver finish, so I spray painted it gold.  To do this, I attached the ends together with clothes pins, and then sprayed it.  This worked well because the chicken wire wouldn't stay flat, and also I was able to spray both sides at once.  Let dry before attaching to boards.

4.  Use a staple gun to attach the chicken wire to the back of the boards.

5.  Display and enjoy!

I just love how the gold spray paint looks on the chicken wire.  I used a few old cards from last year to test out my new holder.

I found little gold clothes pins at Michael's to attach the cards to the chicken wire.

I hope you're having a great week - can you believe that Christmas Eve is only two weeks away?!

Pomegranate Moscow Mule

Looking for the perfect holiday cocktail?  I think I may have found it!  I made this last week for our Thanksgiving dinner and it was a hit!  I purchased my Moscow mule mugs last spring and look for any excuse to use them - I think they are so pretty. 

 

 



{ Recipe inspired by this one from the Cookie Rookie }

{ Makes 4 }

Ingredients:
- 5 shots of vodka
- 1 cup of pomegranate juice
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime juiced)
- 2 bottles of ginger beer (24 oz. total)
- Pomegranate seeds and lime slices for garnish

Directions:
- Combine vodka, pomegranate juice, and lime juice in a pitcher and stir.
- Fill cups with ice.
- Pour ginger beer into cups (divide evenly)
- Pour juice/vodka mixture into each cup.
- Gently stir with swizzle stick and garnish with pomegranate and limes
- Enjoy this refreshing cocktail!

* Also delicious as a non-alcoholic beverage
* If you aren't sure how to work with pomegranates, check out this easy tutorial
* To get more juice out of your limes, microwave them for 25-35 seconds before juicing. 

 

 I enjoyed this cocktail so much - I think I'll be making it again for Christmas!

I'm sharing this post with:
- Linda of Coastal Charm at her Show and Share Party
- Judy of DIY by Design at her Fall into Fall Party