Wrapping Presents!

It's almost Christmas! Are all of your gifts wrapped and under the tree? No!?

Thats OK cause I've rounded up a bunch of tutorials, videos, and ideas on how to make your gift just as special on the outside as it is on the inside. 

First Up is the paper....

You don't need to use traditional wrapping paper if you don't want to. Here are a few ways to get creative!

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I also found a video series with step by step instructions on gift wrapping with newspaper. Go ahead and click on the tapes to watch.

Now...What about the bows? Or maybe you just wanna go with a creative topper for your gift... 

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I also found a few videos on how to make a bow to top off your gift. Check them out!

How to make a curly bow

How to make a twisty-tie pom-pom gift topper

How to make a traditional bow

How to make a missyellowshoes bow 

(this is mine!)

Don't forget that you don't neeeeed to tie up your gift with ribbon! You can also use yarn, twine, thread, or whatever else you feel like!

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One year, I wrapped all my gifts like this...

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I once collected stamps (not that what I have is ever going to be worth anything) so I wrapped all my gifts in brown paper. Then I made up fake addresses with the recipients name on it. After gluing on the old stamps I used a pen and markers to make the stamps and symbols that the post office makes when you mail a letter or package. I also wrapped some of the boxes with twine and yarn. 

Needless to say...they looked awesome!

Hopefully this post has inspired and helped you out a little bit. If you need a little more I made another video about the gifts that I've wrapped so far. You can see that here. (and if you really need help on the basics of gift wrapping check out this video here) 

I'll leave you with this cute picture I found while browsing the internet for gift wrapping ideas....

(Mike this is for you)

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I Love Birds

I think that birds are pretty much awesome to say the least. 

They're colorful, and make such pretty songs. 

I wanted to do a blog/craft post just about them so here you go!

If you see something you like just click on the photo and you'll get all the instructions you need!

 

 

 

And here's a pretty print that I found while looking for bird themed crafts. I'll sign off now. Have a lovely Sunday!

Christmas Decorations- Part 11

                                                        

"Many people have given religious meaning to the shape and form of the candy cane. It is said that its shape is like the letter “J” in Jesus’ name. It is also in the shape of the shepherds’ crook, symbolic of how Jesus, like the “Good Shepherd” watches over his children like little lambs. It is a hard candy, solid like a “rock”, the foundation of the Church. The flavor of peppermint is similar to another member of the mint family, hyssop. In the Old Testament hyssop was used for purification and sacrifice, and this is said to symbolize the purity of Jesus and the sacrifice he made.

Some say the white of the candy cane represents the purity of Jesus and his virgin birth. The bold red stripe represents God’s love. The three fine stripes are said by some to represent the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Others say they represent the blood spilled at the beating Jesus received at the hands of the Roman soldiers.

When the practice of using Christmas trees to celebrate Christmas became popular in Europe the people there began making decorations for their trees. Many of the decorations were food items including cookies and candy. The predecesor of our modern candy cane appeared at about this time in the seventeenth century. These were straight, white sticks of sugar candy."

From the Kitchen...

Peppermint buttercream is sandwiched between homemade chocolate cookies...MMMmmmm! Can you say yum?

Click here for the directions.

Or what about this candy cane bark? 

I don't know about you, but this thing wouldn't last a day in my house. Find out how to make it here.

Please excuse me as I wipe up the drool...instructions here!

And last but not least...

When I first saw this picture, not gonna lie, my whole world just kinda stopped as I stared in awe. Pretty sure my lungs stopped breathing and I blew a few brain cells.

I just can't stop oooooing and awwwwing over this candy cane biscotti. 

Mom, if you're reading this...THIS is what I want for Christmas!

Learn how to make these heavenly treats here! (hint hint Mom)

Click on the image for instructions.

I really hope you are enjoying these Christmas themed craft posts as much as I am. It's so much find to search the internet high and wide looking for the most unique ideas.

I would do more of my own tutorial, but being at school and dealing with the mono takes up all my time. Sometimes, as you know, I hardly have time to make these posts. I do spend about an hour or more on each one.

Anyway, as always, my school books are calling me away. 

Have a great night readers!

Sickness, School, and Yarn

If this were a normal semester for me at college, I would have my daily planner full of things I need to get done, I'd be running from one class to another, and spending all my "extra" time in the library with a mountain of books. But, because of getting sick right before school started, my load has been significantly lightened. 

As posted earlier, I can't take any stairs or play any sports, I'm taking a max of 4 classes, and I sleep all the time. It's not uncommon for me to be having a conversation with Mike then fall asleep half way through a sentence. 

In fact, just today I feel asleep next to him on a couch while he was studying for a test. 

But, with all this extra time and orders from my doctors and parents to relax and take it easy this semester, I've allowed my new crocheting hobby to take flight. As you've seen in an older post, I've finished my blanket and now I want sore above and beyond with this new found love.

I would love to make this for the 4th of July or my mom's birthday (the 4th of July actually).

This is gorgeous, and I would love to make this for a friend.

100 Posts!

Hey Everybody! This is my 100th blog post.

Here I was on a typical Tuesday morning about to make a post fearturing my awesome weekend and lo and behold I see this is my 100th post. I don't know about you but that made me smile.

You know what this calls for....BALLOONS!!!!!!!

Ok, now that I've celebrated enough, let met tell you about my weekend.

The History Department here at school took all the history majors to a civil war reinactment day and I got to tag along! (tottaly beat last year when I had to spend Saturday by myself while Mike was gone on the trip)

Anyway, the day was full of activities and comepletely awesome. Here are some pictures we took...

I have a couple of hats like this...I'm just not sure where or when to wear them...

I had to stop and take pictures of this gorgeous senery, Mike smiled at me and said "you'd think she's never seen a flower before!".

Let me just say that it was pretty awesome and fun learning all about the civil war and the people who lived int hat time period. If you've never really gotten into history you've missed out. These people lived in an entirely diffrent culture and it's rather intersting to learn about them...maybe people will think that we're interesting to learn about in years to come...

Mike bought me this yarn. Scroll down for the story...

Of course this little tent caught my eye. The lady who runs this little set up raises her own sheep and makes yarn from their wool. She had all kinds of colors and textures. I bought 2 natural "samples". One from a white lamb, and one from a black lamb. I'm not sure what I'll make with them yet...whatever it is it has to be epic! Any ideas are appreciated.

Wodden Spools...can't wait to edit this photo.

That's all for now guys; I have a ton of pictures from Saturday that I'll try and put up later.

I hope you had as much fun on your weekend as I had in mine!

Bye Bye!