Holiday Helpers: Thanksgiving
Posted by on November 18, 2012
I’m over on Wayfair’s My Way Home blog this week sharing some favorite turkey-day memories and a few ideas I picked up from the fabulous ladies in my life who’ve hosted my family Thanksgiving since I was a kid. I can’t believe there’s just a few more days until we feast on stuffing and pie – head over and check it out!
Handmade Holidays: Cookie Mix
Posted by on November 16, 2012
Ready for the last installment of Handmade Holidays? There is no sweeter gift than homemade treats!
Remember when I said this was the easiest DIY holiday present? I lied — it gets easier! Grab a package of Tollhouse chocolate chips from the grocery store and using the recipe on the back measure out all of the dry ingredients, layering them one by one in a mason jar. Next, write the recipe out on a pretty piece of paper and stick it on top of the jar, and finally, adorn the front with a personalized message and some ribbon (I printed my message out on Martha Stewart Avery Labels). How easy was that? 
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Handmade Holidays Gift ideas here, here, here, and here!
Handmade Holidays: Glitter Hangers
Posted by on November 15, 2012
Next up in the Handmade Holidays series is a set of glitter coated hangers, the perfect gift for a stylish friend!
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong when you coat something in glitter — am I right? I started this project with inexpensive wooden hangers, and painted them with a layer of mod podge. Quickly, before the glue dries, sprinkle glitter until you coat the wood. After this layer dries, go back over with another layer of mod podge to coat the hangers and seal in the glitter — you might need more than one coat depending on the thickness of your application. And there you have it, some sparkly gifts for your favorite clothes horse! (I love these so much that I might save one to hang my wedding dress on this Spring!)
Handmade Holidays: Polka Dot Candle Holder
Posted by on November 14, 2012
Next up in the Handmade Holidays series has a little bit of glitz — a decorative candle holder with gold polka dots!
I love the idea of using this handmade holiday gift for a little hostess treat when you’re visiting friends for the holidays. To start I used a craft punch to cut out circles on a piece of thick cardstock, then taped the cardstock around the candle holder to create a stencil. From there, it’s as simple as filling in your polka dots with a metallic sharpie — you can add-on an extra layer of metallic marker after the first layer dries if you’d like the color to be a bit more opaque. Then pair it was a pretty scented candle and some fun matches (I love these ones!).
Handmade Holidays: Monogrammed Mugs
Posted by on November 13, 2012
Next up in the Handmade Holidays series is one of the easiest DIYs ever — monogrammed mugs!
I found some plain white oversized latte mugs for this project; you also need sharpie markers, and some fun treats to fill the mugs with. Draw your design on the mug with your Sharpie marker, I practiced free-hand on a piece of paper a couple of times before I started to draw on the mug or you could use a stencil. After you’re happy with your design or lettering, pop the mug in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes to make set the ink. Then fill up the mug with some seasonal sweets — I chose peppermint ribbon candy– and tie it up with a ribbon, voila!
Handmade Holidays: Festive Bottle Stoppers
Posted by on November 12, 2012
I’m kicking of a new series: Handmade Holidays to share some crafty ideas for making DIY presents this year.
First up, some festive bottle stoppers! I bought plain, unfinished bottle corks in the kitchen section at Target and colored in the stopper with a silver metallic Sharpie, followed by a light brush of glue and matching silver glitter. Once they dried all you need is a drop of super glue to hold an ornament in place on top of the stopper! These took under an hour to make, and cost less than $10 to make the whole set — I think they’d look great tied to a bottle of wine for a hostess gift during the holidays!
Glitter and glue.
Posted by on November 11, 2012
I spent the weekend painting and gluing and glittering to pull together a bunch of fun DIY holiday gift ideas; check back on the blog tomorrow for the first gift idea in the series!
Hibernation.
Posted by on November 7, 2012
There’s is an inexplicable force that makes me crave cozy pajamas and slippers and a day in my bed like crazy when that first snowfall hits… doesn’t that sound fabulous right about now? Maybe ordering new pink gingham flannel PJs will help hold me over until I can hibernate this weekend!
Cashmere scarf, gingham pajamas, polka dot slippers, monogram mug
Scenes from the weekend.
Posted by on November 5, 2012
On Friday night we tried a new neighborhood restaurant and I fell in love with it before we even ordered when I saw how fun their cocktail menu was! I played along and settled on a greyhound — it was delicious! Then on Saturday one of my girlfriends hosted a blind wine tasting party — everyone brought a bottle they’d never had before and we got to work sipping and rating our favorites! Aren’t the little cards she designed the cutest? All in all, it was a pretty fine weekend!
Halloween.
Posted by on October 31, 2012
Happy Halloween! I’m not planning on dressing up today, but if I was I hope I would look as chic as Audrey in her cat mask! Are you celebrating tonight?
