Hello sweet visitors! I know Thanksgiving is in two days, but I'm still thinking a month down the road.
Christmas 2010 = D. I. freaking Y. With Ryan and I moving into a new apartment next week, our moneys will be a bit smaller this Christmas, but there will be no stressing out. There will only be...busy!
I got a bit of a jump start this year since I anticipated the move...I had about 75% of my gift shopping done and my Christmas cards made at the beginning of November. But there's still a fair bit to be done, like decorating the apartment after all the boxes unpacked. Decorating my home for Christmas is one of my favorite things about the holidays. I absolutely watching (or maybe directing? "More of the colorful lights! More on the bottom!") Dad string the lights and garland on the tree so we could dive into the boxes of ornaments, carefully unwrap the delicate Kleenex-packed ones are get-to-decoratin'.
This year will be the first time Ryan and I get to spend the Christmas season together. I'm determined to go (a bit) overboard with the cheer and super determined to use mostly handmade, vintage and re-purposed items to do it
There's no limit to what you can do or make, just google Christmas DIY or look up tutorials and go nuts! Etsy has an endless supply of amazing vintage pieces and supplies, even pre-made kits, like this Winter Wonderland cupcake kit , this Holiday journal kit, and this needle felted snowman kit just to name a few, that can be shipped to your doorstep in days!
If you like to shop local, hit up any antique shop. I guarantee they will have lots of vintage Christmas ornaments, figurines, cards and books. Last weekend Ryan and I snagged this 3 foot Santa
at August Antiques in the Heights (If you're in the Houston area, I recommend stopping by; they have tons of Christmas items from the 50s and 60s!
I also bought a handful of these vintage Santa cut-outs to string up in the apartment.
At the moment, I'm waiting (not so patiently) for my Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons to come in the mail (via Etsy!) so I can make this awesome garland per Amanda's awesome tutorial found here.
So if you'd like to get your hands dirty this December, here are just a few of the hundreds of ideas and tips to help make your Christmas super DIY and unique:
Reuse broken or old ornaments to make a beautiful wreath!
Use scrap yarn to wrap foam balls!
I LOVE the candy cane candle in the upper left had corner! I think the evergreen pieces on the outside of the glass adds such a classy touch to a table setting.
This is what I'm working on now...crocheting Christmas tree garland. I chose fluffy white sparkly yarn to look like snow!
Use blank cards and scrap booking stickers or chipboard pieces to create your own unique cards!
Chose pretty holiday fabric to make your own cheery bunting. Here is a no-sew tutorial!
Even if your gifts aren't handmade, you can add your own personal accents to the packaging! Use stamps, ribbons, buttons, or stickers to create your own gift tags. Blank tags can be found at Hobby Lobby or any craft store.
This is a great idea if you have kids and even if you don't making paper ornaments or decorative (using pretty holiday scrapbook paper) paper chains is a fun and easy way to add a handmade touch to your decor.
Happy Christmas crafting!
[photos from google images, light up Santa is mine]
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