12 Weeks of Christmas - 8th Week

Kathy at Sew Happy House is hosting the 12 weeks of Christmas on her blog.

I think I have lost a few weeks! (sorry Kathy I've been sick)
I have missed the 6th week and the 7th week and now it is the 8th week - which means there are not many to go now.
You can see Kathy's post for the weeks I missed (Week 6 HERE and Week 7 HERE) and her current post for Week 8 HERE


Mel (One Crafty Mumma) has been making owl decorations by the dozen!

Here is one I have started making.  Just need to stitch now.

You can find the printable template and instructions HERE

I have found a few really good ideas to share with you:
Living Locurto - Children's Wish List (3 different printable PDFs)
Stay At Home Mum - 100 ideas for Gifts for Grandparents 
Stay At Home Mum -  more than 100 ideas for Gifts for Children
Stay At Home Mum - Gift Ideas for the Man in your Life
Stay At Home Mum -  100 Gifts under $10 (talked about this in a previous post)

12 Weeks of Christmas - 5th Week of Christmas

Kathy from Sew-Happy House is hosting the 12 weeks of Christmas on her blog.

I have been following along each week to see what Kathy has been doing, making, sewing and cooking. You can look HERE to read Kathy's post and see who has linked up.

This week I started some Christmas sewing and unrolled my Kate Spain 12 Days of Christmas Jelly Roll which has been hanging around in my cupboard for ages.
I found a site called FREEBIES FOR CRAFTERS a while ago and subscribed for updates via email. Last week it shared a link for a Table Runner which is what I have been making this week - not quite finished yet and have made it a little bit smaller than the original pattern.

My friend Mhairi pointed this out to me - so I wanted to share with you:

Starting on November 1, Sew Mama Sew has 30 days of tutorial, recipes, free printables and giveaways - sounds really good! I will be checking this out tomorrow!

See you next week - need to start thinking about Christmas recipes soon

12 Weeks of Christmas - 4th Week of Christmas

Kathy from Sew-Happy House is hosting a series of 12 Weeks of Christmas on her blog.

I have been following along and visiting other blogs to see what others have been doing to prepare for Christmas - you can linkup with Sew-Happy House HERE

I am showing you some of my very favourite ornaments - the one's made by the children when they were younger.
These are so very special to me and I will still be putting them on our tree when they have grown up and moved out! Then I will be remembering the looks on their faces and their joy when we hung them on our Christmas Tree for the very first time.

Found these whilst looking for Christmas ideas at the Martha Stewart website

- Martha Stewart's Easiest Christmas: Easy Christmas Ideas from A to Z
From Angels at the Table to Zesty Garnish - lots of great ideas in this post.
- Christmas Tree Photo Card - will definately be making some of these!
 Could easily get lost on her site for an afternoon - there is so many great ideas there!

See you all next week

12 Weeks of Christmas -3rd Week of Christmas

I am following Kathy at Sew-Happy House for her 12 Weeks of Christmas countdown.

She is sharing all sorts of wonderful ideas with us and showing us what she is making for her "home-made Christmas Challenge"
This week I spent some time going though craft magazines and blog tutorials for some small gift ideas for Christmas.

Last year for an ornament swap I made a "Christmas Ornament Birdie" from a tutorial by Robyn at Daisy Quilts Have a look around her blog - it is full of all sorts of loveliness! Tutorials, recipes, online shop and more. And she has a gallery of scrappy quilts!
For my ornament swap I added a few more birdies to make this for my swap partner Sharon, and used some "feathery" wool at the bottom with the coloured bells

A string of birdies

Close up of the bottom birdie

Thought I might make some more this Christmas.
And Kathy - just in case you were wondering!

See you all next week.
Edited to add - Just had a Facebook post from Stay At Home Mum - the Secret to Living on One Wage about a FREE downloadable Christmas Ebook being released this week - sign up for the very first newsletter (top right hand side of the blog HERE) or on Facebook (VIP Specials & Bonuses)
You can see my post for the 2nd Week of Christmas about Stay At Home Mum

12 Weeks of Christmas - 2nd Week of Christmas

Last week Kathy at Sew-Happy House started her 12 Weeks of Christmas. It is now the second week of this and I must say I am not anymore organised than I was last week!!

Talking about Christmas - thought I would share another good blog that I found last week.
Stay at Home Mum- the Secret to Living on One Wage
There is a whole section on Christmas (decorations and decor, food, gifts, logistics, xmas activities, xmas meal plans) and there is a great forum with all sorts of things being discussed.

 
Starting to think about Christmas and wondering what shift Hubby will be on this year for Christmas Day??? (always works half shift 7-11am or 11-3pm or 3-7pm or 7-11pm) Has been this way for years so we just fit in with whatever shift he is on and plan our meals accordingly. So no travelling for us.
Linking up with Kathy at Sew-Happy House HERE

12 Weeks of Christmas - 1st Week of Christmas

12 Weeks of Christmas started today with Kathy at Sew-Happy House - go HERE to see what she has posted about today - there are only 12 more Mondays until Christmas - can you believe that?????

See my earlier blog post for a few more details

I think I am having a mini panic - thinking about this!!

I have subscribed to a website called 101 Days to Christmas  (started on September 15) which sends daily emails with ideas to help you get organised for Christmas - well worth a look! (only 83 days left  now!)

On Day 91 there is a "Gifts to Make Inventory List" - a printable PDF which can help you keep track of gift making.
Day 93 - set up a Gift Closet - and a printable PDF to help keep track of gifts already brought/made and stored in your "gift closet" (which if you are like me, is actually a box hidden in the cupboard!)
Day 99 - Christmas Planner  - with many printable PDF sheets to include in it. A great organisation tool - just need to remember to use it!
And many more ideas to help have an organised Christmas.
This week I will have a SERIOUS think about Christmas and share a bit more with you next week.

Confession - The other day I found some things from last Christmas which did not get into the "Christmas cupboard" after the Christmas Tree was taken down! Oops!

 Linking up with Kathy at Sew-Happy House 12 Weeks of Christmas - 1st Week of Christmas
Come and join in!