DIY Gift Tags

Every year, I tell myself I'm going to create amazing, unique gift tags that are really going to blow people away. And every year, it gets down to the last moment, and there I am in Walgreens on Christmas Eve buying the last of the Christmas tags they have to offer. Which are usually not super great. Suffice it to say, people are usually not blown away.

This year, things are going to be different! Using some of the leftovers from the cards I created yesterday, I've decided to make my own Christmas tags this year. Super easy, and in all different shapes and sizes!

Be sure to keep some ribbon on hand, as well as a hole punch, so that you can put your tags anywhere. Whew! Is it really 23 days till Christmas? Feels like it's getting close!

DIY Christmas Cards

Happy December! Today, we're talking Christmas cards, as it's important to get those out this week.

This year, we've decided to make our own Christmas cards. With a little high quality paper, and a lot of creativity, it's no problem at all! 

Here's what you'll need: 

• Assorted Paper in Christmas-y Colors or Themes (Michaels, AC Moore, JoAnn's)
• Glue Stick, or Glue Dots
• Wooden or Plastic Stamps
• Stamp Pad in Assorted Colors

Also - side note for those of you out there who'd like to design their own cards, but don't want to cut the paper, and put it all together - most craft stores sell blank cards in a variety of colors and themes, making this super easy. 

Start to think of ideas, and do a trial run with one cut. If you don't like it, of course, start over. I like to try out three different designs, and usually come out with one I like best. 

Once you've decided on a specific design, create in bulk! 

Here is our favorite design for this year!

Our Christmas Tree!

We put up our Christmas Tree tonight, because the first snow was today, and it is December 1st. We went to Gro-Moore Farms, the same place that we got our tree last year. After picking out the tree, they bundled it all up, and did a fresh cut on the stump. Just like last year, we asked for the small section of stump back, and strung a ribbon through it. It's a perfect memory of our Christmas trees past, though in 25 years, I'm sure we'll wonder what to do with all of these "ornaments"!

Here are some photos of our most perfect Christmas tree. We love it!

Here is the tree before we started cutting it out of the mesh that holds it all together. 

This is Tygg's idea of helping with the Christmas Tree. He's supervising.

Here are our first shot at LED lighting. There are two strings of 60 lights on there. 

This is the fabulous cat ornament that we just received as a gift. Thanks Alice and Robert!
 

Here is the ornament that I gave Si for our Christmas tree this year, in honor of our fantastically funny snowman of 2010.

Here is the ornament that Si got me for our Christmas tree - it's a Sandwich, in honor of our trip to Cape Cod! 

 

One of the ornaments we bought to commemorate our first vacation this year!

Here is a shot of the completed tree. It's hard to see how great it looks,  but it is just perfect!