Christmas Teacher Gifts

This year the teachers are getting survival kits. 

 Cute chevron embroidered survival kits. 

With tags my nine year old made herself.

Filled with all sorts of things you might need in your classroom or your car like vitamins, gum, band-aids, stylish kleenex, drink powder, lint roller, wisp brushes, and of course, a shammy. Everyone needs a shammy.

Gender Reveal Party

New babies are cause for celebration!

The baby quilts in this antique dresser drawer were special because one was Mom's baby quilt and one was Dad's. How sweet is that?? Perfect for the vintage theme of this gender reveal party.

Every party needs a banner.

Rolled tissue flowers on foam core were used for this question mark on the old reclaimed barn wood wall.

I love this old door with the shelf added to make it functional. One basket held tie pins. One held tutus. These were cut out with the Cricut machine. Each guest guessed (ha!) boy or girl by choosing a pin and wearing it.

I don't know why I don't have a picture, but we revealed the gender with tubes of confetti thrown at the couple. 

Merry Door Decor

Sometimes you just don't want a wreath. 

So you make a door-hanging thingy instead.

Get you some burlap, silky ribbon, and wooden letters from Michael's and make this cute Christmas door decor.

Elf Antics

Elfie is a curious little guy. 

This particular elf wants to know what this Easter thing is all about this Christmas season.

Checking out the panoramic sugar Easter egg is what this Elf on the Shelf is into this morning. I got this egg from World Market. But that was in the Spring.

Maybe it's just me, but I find it pretty funny that he is actually an elf on an actual shelf this morning. 

TV Cabinet

Need TV storage? If you are like me, you are not OK with the TV above the fireplace. I like to decorate my mantel and the TV is not exactly pretty. This is the perfect solution for where to put the TV. Especially if you don't have a fireplace.

Why not repurpose a big ugly china cabinet into a TV cabinet? 

Remove some doors. Take out some drawers to make shelves for the Blu-ray player and DVR. Or VCR if you swing that way. 

Perfect for your new flat screen. 

Elfie Selfie

                              Elfie found my Mini Instax camera last night and tried to take a selfie.

He didn't do a very good job.

He didn't even get his face. It's just a blur. 

You may have noticed this is not our usual elf, Sparky. 

I hate to say, I almost forgot that it was time for elves to appear even though Christmas is everywhere. And I thought I knew where our elf was. I know I saw it recently. But now I can't find it. GASP! In my defense, we moved recently. So, Sparky is buried under boxes somewhere and can't get out. Elfie is my mom's elf and I think he is pretty cute.

But he better stay away from my camera.

At least until he learns to take a decent picture. 

What was your elf on the shelf up to last night?

The Rest of the Wedding Story

Sparkly chandeliers with antique armchairs and burlap make me want to describe this wedding as 

Rustic Vintage Luxe.

The bride and groom's table was set with lots of flowers. Two antique chairs were used as seating with wooden plaque signs for Mr. and Mrs.

Jackie's awesome table arrangements. I loved the droopy greenery and wildflower sort of look to them. Because we could not find anything but silver or gold, we spraypainted candelabras oil rubbed bronze.

Guest tables were draped in burlap with moss runners. We continued the vintage look with old Ball jars and glass baby food jars as vases.

 The wedding cake was displayed on my great-grandmother's old table with mason jars. The bridesmaid's put their bouquets in the jars when it was time for pictures. We made a wall with old pallet wood to hang the chalkboard on and spray painted a chandelier that I got for $12, yes $12, from a consignment sale. It was a bright gold color that is not fashionable so Jena ripped out the light bulb sockets and we stuck candles in it.

Fleur-de-lis groom's cake was displayed on a burlap skirted table decorated with enormous fishing lures and ducks. We used a lot of burlap, ya'll.

Every groom should have a cigar bar at his wedding. With a chalkboard to point the way.

At a rustic wedding, you need old doors laid across old wine barrels to display the buffet. What's behind the white curtain? Well, it ain't Oz. That is how we hid the kitchen.

Strings of lights were hung on sheperd's poles (potted plant hangers?) to light the way from the church to the pavilion.

View from afar of the reception pavilion. I love the huge burlap curtains, lights draped from the ceiling, and moss covered monogram.

I loved, loved, loved this drinks table. What could be more fitting at a rustic wedding than extra large mason jar punch, water, lemonade, and tea dispensers? With burlap skirting on the bar, of course. 

  

The wedding took place at Acadian Village, so chalkboard arrows directed guests to the chapel. Instead of the school. Or stables.

Pew decorations were simple greenery tied with-you guessed it-burlap.

You can see more details from this wedding here.

A great time was had by all! Maybe we'll invite you to the next one!