Goodbye Christmas

 

Christmas has almost disappeared from my house. Putting all of the tree decorations away was a little bit easier this year. Because I am a genius.

 

 

I can't believe I've never thought of this idea. Probably because I have never bought new glasses before. We've only ever had plastic. We're grown-ups now. I was walking to the trashcan to throw away some boxes when it came to me.

 

 

Why not use these sturdy drinking glass boxes to store my collectible Christopher Radko and other oddly shaped very breakable Christmas ornaments? They are perfect. The search for a plastic container that will hold them is over! I actually purchased one this year. It didn't work. I've even tried the solo cups glued in a box. Some ornaments still didn't fit. This storage method is 100% better than all of the original individual boxes that I have been putting these back into every year.

 

 

Being that it is Christmas time, I happened to have some wrapping paper tubes that I hadn't thrown away because I thought the kids might play with them. So glad I hoarded those. I used them to roll my lights up to store them. By far, the easiest storage method for lights that I have ever tried. Even better than the piece of cardboard method.

            

 

And of course, it wouldn't be tradition if I didn't find ONE LAAAASSST ORNAMENT after boxing everything up and putting it in the attic.

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. 

Instagram Photo Album

Looking for a great Christmas gift? 

Have you seen these yet? It's a 4x4 album for all of those precious Instagram photos you've taken all year. I love that it has the little label slot on the spine. 

I like to put graphics and words on my Instagram pictures, especially quotes from all of the children in my family. 

So I really wanted to print these to make a sort of scrapbook. 

These albums from We R Memory Keepers are leather and come in lots of colors. I wanted metallic gold but it sold out so I got greige for myself and my sister. To make it an even better gift, fill it with pictures like I did.

I haven't seen these Instagram albums in stores. I ordered mine and paid for it myself from Amazon but I do get paid a small amount if you click the link and order one. Or two!

Ugliest Christmas Sweater Award

Tis the season to be tacky and what better way to do that, than to throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.

 

If you throw an Ugly Sweater Party, you might want to reward your guest with the Ugliest Sweater with this badge. If you reward your guest, they might give you some of their eggnog.

 

Click the link to the right to find it in my etsy shop.

 

http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=233920&m=12808&u=1031675

If you click the link above, I get paid a small amount.

 

Canton Loot

I recently went with friends to the flea market in Canton, TX and came back with some pretty good loot.

The best score? An old sled. Because if you are from Louisiana, you just don't find sleds. It doesn't snow much here. But a lady from Connecticut had these and I'm excited to use this for my front door Christmas decor. 

My friend found this candle sconce and asked the booth owner how much it was and I thought he said $110 so obviously I said no thanks. Turns out, it was ten dollars. It's going in my craft room.

Love this guy. It's a snowflake made from a tin ceiling tile. Paid way too much for this one, though. I know because at a different store it was $10 cheaper. Doh! That is not a mistake I make very often.

Actually, this frame came from Goodwill, but I snuck it in here. This recently received a makeover, so stay tuned for that. *You can see that here.

This little brassy shelf is bent and rusty, but it was only $3 and a girl can never have enough shelves. Am I right? You know I am. I will probably spray paint it. Not sure what color.

I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with these metal basket tray thingys, but it's going to be awesome.

Brass is all the rage right now, so I couldn't leave this basket in the booth. Click here to see what I did with it.

Alas, this one really didn't come home with me. Pooh. And it wasn't even at Canton. It's in a local antique shop. And to be honest, I'm not positive it is even old. I'm suspicious. It may just look old. BUT, I love it!!! I love all the cubbies. I love the numbers. I love the chippy paint. And I really want to take this piece of furniture home. But it is pretty yellowy which is not the right color for my other stuff. But I am willing to change everything else.

Annnd these are the friends I rode with. Annnd we ran out of gas on the way. Yes we did. Coasted downhill, then walked uphill to the gas station, bought a gas can and left it there so we didn't all get high from the gas smell.

Note to self: Don't listen to the girl in the back who wants to wait for the good gas station with the Sonic inside so she can get fruit water. Just stop when the Empty light comes on. Definitely when the alarm goes off. 

I can't wait to go back to Canton! With gas.

Sleighjacked!

The elf was up to his old antics again last night. 

He coaxed the reindeer off the fireplace mantel and hooked them up to the sleigh.

Silly Elfie.

Look at the smile on his face.

He's having way to much fun with this.