Christmas Tussie Mussie

My daughter calls me to come get her from school because her stomach hurts. When we get home I start to load the dishwasher and she says, "So this is what you do all day?" 

"Who did you think does the dishes?"

"I don't know I just figured you would be on Pinterest all day."

 

Nope. Today I made a Christmas Tussie Mussie with my Crate Paper stash. 

Christmas Teacher Gifts

 

 

Teachers are getting these cuties for Christmas this year.

 

 

 

I found these clips and thought they would be perfect to hold a cute card.

 

 

 

I used Crate Paper Sleigh Ride Collection paper and chipboard embellishments to decorate library pockets.

 

 

Then, made a card with a gift card attached to slip inside.

 

I think they turned out pretty cute. I wish I could keep one for myself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Sparky has been very mischievous lately.

Sparky, our Elf on the Shelf, is taking a trip down memory lane, looking at the Christmas scrapbook.

We found our elf snuggled up in the American Girl Doll Bed. Marie Grace isn't too happy with him.  

So the next day we found him taped up with her washi tape. 

Sparky thinks he can win the sack race with stuffed animals. 

Uh-oh. Sparky came back from the North Pole with a warning message from Santa.  Someone has been cleaning up her Calico Critters. 

Sneaky elf is hiding behind the mini Christmas tree in the bathroom. 

One morning, little girl had to go on a hunt for Sparky and her Advent Calendar gift. You can see more details here. I have a set of these in my etsy store.

What has your Elf on the Shelf been up to?

Elf Hunt

Sometimes it is really hard to find teeny tiny stuff to fit in the advent calendar. In all of my infinite wisdom, I purchased the really cute advent calendar with the tiniest compartments ever because I thought it would be less expensive to buy miniature things. So not the case.

 

So, little girl had to go on a hunt for her gift as well as the Elf on the Shelf this morning because the gift wouldn't fit behind that miniature door.

 

 

I made clue cards in little envelopes because my daughter is a TSL like me. Tiny Sh@# Lover. Go to www.kellehampton.com to find out more. This is part of why I convinced myself that tiny doors on advent calendars are awesome. But in all seriousness, what is cuter than tiny envelopes? With tiny notecards inside?

 

Nothing, that's what.

 

I wrote clues on the little cards. Micron pens came in handy for writing on these tiny spaces.

 

 

I used mini alpha stamps and red mini glitter numbers.

 

 

Let's face it. This was as much for me as her. I would've LOVED this! I put some snowflake "glitter" (basically confetti) inside each envelope and in front of the final hiding spot. Miniature snowflakes. Love it.

 

 

The last clue led to our elf and a reusable hand warmer-great for cold mornings at the bus stop.

 

*My daughter is old enough to be able to read the clues and figure them out. She is also old enough to know not to climb inside of the dryer. I am not recommending that you send a young child on a hunt to the inside of a dryer. I also followed my child around just to make sure. *

 

Are you a fellow TSL?

 

linked up at www.mabeyshemadeit.com

 

 

Big Lots Christmas

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen this post of my Big Lots haul.

 

 

I think I was most excited about the red ball garland. To me, they look like holly berries and I could think of a million places that need sprucing up with holly berries.

 

My tree was looking a little blah. A box of my Christmas stuff was left at my mom's and the ribbon I usually wrap around the tree was in there. But honestly, I don't think I wanted to use it this year anyway. The ribbon was purple and I want to bring in more red to coordinate better with my tree skirt and stockings.

 

I didn't just turn on the lights and add presents. If you look closely you can see the red, white, and green ball garland. I think it looks much better, but maybe still needs something. Just not sure what.

 

My front door décor got a little bit of a makeover as well. Remember these door arrangements from my Housewarming and Halloween?

 

I added glittery red berries that I broke off of the $2 stems from Big Lots.

 

 

 

More ball garland was added to the tablescape. I filled my glass apothecary jars with burlap, pinecones I picked in July while camping because I knew I would want them for something, holly leaves ripped off the berry stems from the door arrangements and red glitter balls that I pulled off of the garland.

 

I'm sure some of this will get changed up, but for now it works.

Linked up at www.lambertslately.com and www.livingwellspendingless.com.

Christmas Teacher Gift Basket

I have to post conversations with my kid because sometimes I wonder if everyone has these sort of talks with their children. Please tell me this is normal.

Her: Mom, would you eat a fried ant for $10?

Me: No.

Her: Would you eat a fried ant for $100?

Me: Ummmm depends on the day. 

Her: I would do it for five. 

Me: Nice.

Anyways. My parents have a Satsuma tree and we all hate to see them go to waste. It makes more than all of us can possibly eat.

So I thought it would be nice to make a gift a basket with some of the satsumas and some pecans for the faculty at my daughter's school. My daughter eats one for lunch everyday. They are not too sour and really yummy. Plus, they are really easy to peel. 

The plastic glittery snowflake that I already had was perfect to use as a backdrop for the tag. I used a chipboard ornament and paper from the Sleigh Ride Collection by Crate Paper with some other chipboard. I found the plastic crate in the dollar bins at Target. I hope the faculty like this gift basket!

More teacher gift ideas coming soon!

Linked up at www.littleredwindow.com and www.thehankfulhouse.com.