A Lovely Christmas.

Family.

Food (after removing the miniature landscape from the plate).


Fun.

Hope your Christmas was filled with Family, Food and Fun!
The mushrooms were made using this pattern.

“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas”
~ Anonymous

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 30

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
~ Oprah Winfrey

From Pixie Paper Arts To You...

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~ Norman Vincent Peale

Ornament Show and Tell Friday

It seems I've just started this ornament Show & Tell Friday and here we are now at the end already! Due to the bad lighting (blame it on lack of natural sunshine) I had a hard time photographing the ornaments on the tree. So I decided upon this collection of colorful vintage ornaments!

I hope the eve of Christmas is just as colorful for you!

"Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age."
~ Carrie Latet

Coffee Filter Wreath...Really?

How do coffee filters end up looking like this...

A closer look will reveal frosted edges...

Make it for under $4...Really!

I already made four of them!

“Symbolizing eternal hope, the wreath goes 'round and 'round, And where it starts or ends cannot be found. Woven of things that grow - for life, and hung for holiday delight."
~ Author Unknown

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 29

“As from a large heap of flowers many garlands and wreaths are made, so by a mortal in this life there is much good work to be done.”
~ Buddha quotes

K.I.S.S. Wrap

I wanna claim that I'm being resourceful this year with my gift wrapping. But to be quite honest I'm just plain lazy to dig out the Christmas wrap box under loads of other boxes from the storage. So I decided to use whatever was easily accessible in arms reach.

This means brown paper wrap, twine, scrap paper and accessories, branches from the tree and freshly made borax ornaments!

I've been really obsessed with giving kits (like the mexican hot chocolate kit) this year, but I thought it would be fun for the receiver to open the kit piece by piece. So I distinguished each "part" with a mini playing card to open each gift in order beginning with the Ace card. It extends the fun of opening gifts and as they open piece by piece they can figure out what kind of kit they received!

A few of our family and friends have been coming over and they were fascinated by the borax ornaments. So I had them make their own and I used the finished ornaments to top their packages.

Using plain wrapping paper forces you to be creative with finishing the gift! It's amazing what you can create with everyday items you have laying around! You could use leaves and branches collected from a walk, buttons, lace something from the junk drawer. The possibilities are endless!


“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”
~ Kahlil Gibran

Ornament Show and Tell Friday

Last year our friends and family decided to draw names and gift each other homemade ornaments. My very talented friend Dez created this awesome ornament for me!

I was floored when I got this ornament! It has every element I love; glitter, robot and creativity! This particular ornament doesn't actually go back in the Christmas box, it is displayed with my tin robot collection through out the year.

I didn't realize that Christmas is only a week away! So I decided to share a second ornament with you. The Space Boy ornament was purchased at a boutique in downtown Willow Glen that unfortunately is now closed.

My heart pitter patters every time I unwrap this ornament!
Hope you enjoyed this week's futuristic ornaments!

"The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect!"
~ Charles N. Barnard

Packaging Idea

Every year I like to craft ornaments for friends and family and I'm always searching for unique ways to package them. This year I figured out an inexpensive way to achieve this.



Materials:
Cellophane Gift Bags $2-$6 (depending on size)
MS Holiday Mat Pad $5 or any decorative paper will work too!
Recycled Letterhead
Double stick tape



1. Place your awesome ornament in a cellophane bag


2. Trim a 2" width x the length of your bag of decorative paper. You can trim the edge with fancy scissors to create and interesting edge. Fold trim in half length wise.


3. Cut a decorative tag or banner out of any paper you like. I used recycled letterhead I had laying around.


4. Apply double sided tape on the inside of the trim.


5. Apply trim to top of bag "sandwiching" the opening of the bag closed and tag together.



There you have it, a gorgeously wrapped gift!



"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."
~ Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 28

"A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together."
~ Garrison Keillor

Ornament Show & Tell Friday

I decided to show off my most favorite ornaments every Friday until Christmas. I love how all ornaments have a little story behind each one. It always surprises me how each piece floods my mind with great memories!

I purchased this ornament from Anthropologie about 3 years ago and I believe I got it for a super good deal! I don't like snails in the garden but this one sure does looks lovely on the tree. Do you have ornaments you adore? Please share!

“Let's be naughty and save Santa the trip.”
~ Gary Allan

Home Grown Snowflakes

After perusing Martha's Craft Blog, I came across an EASY fun project using Borax to make crystal snowflakes!

I'm so happy with the different results! They will make gorgeous gift toppers!


"We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand ... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late."
~ Marie Beynon Ray

The Holidays Have Officially Exploded...

The tree is up!

Ornaments are being packaged!

Mexican Hot Chocolate kits are being put together!

Glittered Stars are taking over the kitchen counter!

Sugar cookies are being gobbled with guilt!

Has the Holiday blown up in your house yet?

"I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month."
~ Harlan Miller

Polaroid Tuesday :: Week 27

“Snowflakes, like people, are all different and beautiful, but they can be a nuisance when they lose their identity in a mob”
~ Anonymous

A Soup That Soothes The Soul!

Turkey Meatball Soup


Ingredients:

• 6 cups Chicken Stock
• 1 cup Chopped Onion
• 1/2 cup Chopped Celery
• 1/2 cup Chopped Carrots
• 2/3 cup Rice
• 1 lb. Ground Turkey
• 1/4 cup Bread Crumbs
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/4 cup Parsley
• 1 teaspoon White Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
• 1 cup Frozen Peas

1. In a 4-5 quart pan over high heat, combine broth, onion, celery, carrots and rice. Cover and bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 min.

2. Meanwhile, mix turkey, bread crumbs, egg, parsley, thyme, pepper and salt in a separate bowl. Shape mixture into tablespoon size meat balls.


3. Increase heat on broth mixture to a boil. Drop meatballs into soup. Reduce heat to a simmer until meatballs are no longer pink 8-10 minutes.

4. Add peas and cook for another 2 minutes.

5. Garnish with parsley! Bon Appetit!

"You are the only one who understands me."
"You suffer for your soup."
~ The Soup Nazi and Kramer, Seinfeld "The Soup Nazi"