This year I made a few gifts. Some turned out great, others… well. Some were very simple and some were not. But I love giving handmade gifts! It’s so rewarding to know you made something that the recipient will love!
glitter animal ornaments
Ladybug tea wreath
clip-on earring frame
spiced cider (mulling spices, handmade cider and tea infuser)
bacon popcorn cans (directions HERE)
our Hawaii quilt for my hubby
But my favorite handmade gift I gave this year was the fox stole I made for my sister! Now I want one!!!
Did you give or receive any handmade gifts this Christmas???
Every year I feel like I get the best gifts! This year was no exception!
Everybody knew exactly what I needed or wanted or loved! Here are just a few…
Kettle corn and lefse are in our future! Yum!!!
vintage kitchen gadgets and tea cup from my mom
my six-year-old nephew accidentally opened my napkin holder, he was pretty glad to discover it was mine! ;o)
I love these things from my sister!!!
I can’t wait to iron something! Did I just actually say that??? LOL
all this retro housedress needs is a pair of fluffy blue slippers!
I love having my morning tea in my new owl mug from my hubby! He got me the matching travel mug so I can enjoy my owls even far from home… :o)
Yes, it’s a serger! I’ve always wanted one and now I have one! Now I just need lessons for Valentine’s Day…
Hope you were as richly blessed by the gifts you both gave a received this Christmas as I was my mine!
I found a quick and easy way to have Christmas soap dispensers without spending money on holiday ones each year…
Window clings!
I’m sure any old window clings would do but these were on sale and they worked great!
I was also able to match them to the bathrooms they are in.
master bath
basement bath
Have fun finding the perfect window clings for your soap dispensers!
Every year we have an open house to kick off the Christmas season. This year was no exception but the cleaning and decorating seemed to be a bit more crazed after being away at the beach with family all of Thanksgiving weekend! But somehow it all got done… along with all the cooking and baking and preparations. Whew!
Oh, and the new Christmas tree we bought from the neighbors before they moved didn’t help matters one bit! They told me it was a 9-foot pre-lit tree. Well, it is 9 feet tall. And it did have lights on it… Sixteen strings of mini lights intricately wound into all of the branches and NOT ONE OF THEM WORKED!!! NOT ONE!
It took nearly 3 hours to untwist them all from the branches! Oh, and it didn’t have a stand and jimmy rigging a stand for a 9-foot tree ain’t easy. Thankfully I have an uber amazing and handy hubby!
Here are some shots of our decorations for 2012… Every year they turn out just a bit different than the year before.
Most of these pics were taken the day after the open house. Except for the one of the pile of shoes. You should have seen it an hour later… it was GINORMOUS!!!
Stupid tree! ;o)
Yes, the pile did get bigger than that!
Kitchen… mostly retro stuff, including my grandfather’s Christmas stocking
Living Room… now that the walls are orange there are no more reds! Reds are not good!
Upstairs… the master bedroom got a new look this year, a comforter for the bed!
Entryway… I wish there was something new here (ie- floors and stairs and wall color) but there isn’t. :o(
