DIY

Handmade Holidays: Festive Bottle Stoppers

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!

Entertaining

Festive.

West Elm just introduced their holiday line and I’m quite pleased to see a fun collaboration with Confettisystem! It might be a little early to start planning for the holidays, but these ornaments and garlands are so festive, I think you  could use them all year round. 

Ornaments, Garland

Life

Happy Holidays.

The presents are wrapped, the Christmas cards are in the mail, and I’m signing off to enjoy the holidays with friends and family for the next few days.  Merry Christmas! xo Kate

Life

20 Gift Ideas Under $25.

I think I’m finally finished with all of my Christmas shopping, but there’s always that one gift recipient that I’ll realize has slipped my mind just days before the holiday weekend. So, if you’re like me and need a few last-minute gift ideas, I’ve rounded up 20 festive finds that are on a budget — everything is under $25! The danger of putting these posts together? I’ve already done some shopping for myself: that polka-dot hat is mine!

From top left: pencils, whisk, shoe clips, initial watch, horse bottle opener, tart server, lobster earrings, twirl perfume, polka-dot hat, peace plate, magic wallet, pom-pom mittens, perpetual calendar, nail polish, volupsa candle, coasters, paddywax candle, heart sunglasses, notebooks, red lipstick.

DIY

Tassels and twine.

After playing with pom-poms last week, I tried my hand at using the same bakers twine to make little tassels for some other present wrapping this weekend. The weather is getting a little chillier, and I’m off to an annual holiday celebration with my friends tonight, so I’m really starting to feel the Christmas spirit. Here’s hoping you’re beginning your celebrations this weekend too, cheers!

Life

Christmas notes.

I searched high and low for cute Christmas cards this year trying to top the adorable Rifle Paper Co postcards I sent last year. I found vintage looking letterpress cards in girly pink hues when I was visiting New York a few weeks ago that I had to have. And when I got home I researched the studio that makes them, Snow & Graham, only to find a collection of even cuter options.  Nothing gets me in the holiday spirit like dropping a stack of envelopes stuffed with Christmas greetings  in the mailbox; are you sending cards this holiday season?

  Cards can be found at Snow & Graham

DIY

Pom-Pom Presents.

I’m miraculously half-way done with my Christmas shopping already, so now comes my favorite part: the wrapping! This year I plan to forgo my usual grosgrain ribbon and try something a little more three-dimensional. Leftover baker’s twine inspired me with the festive red and white colors, so I decided to whip up some fluffy pom-poms to top my presents. Making them is easy as pie; all you need is some baker’s twine, a fork, and a pair of scissors.

To start, wrap the twine the fork until it starts to look round and full. Then, thread the end of your twine through the center of the fork and tie it around the ball of  twine. Finally, trim the loops and slide the ball of twine off the fork. After a few fluffs and puffs you have a pom-pom for the top of your gift! 

Life

Christmas cards.

Finishing up a few last Christmas tasks before I head out to celebrate with family in New York… among them, finishing up mailing the cards that I got from Rifle Paper Co. I’m having a hard time sending them out, they’re so cute that I want to keep them for myself!

DIY

Recycled Christmas.

Quebec City is the pinnacle of Christmas decorations, they go all out with garland and lights and ornaments. I snapped lots of pictures of the holiday trimmings, but the ones that really caught my eye were actually made out of recycled bubble wrap. They looked so pretty that I didn’t realize they were made of recycled materials until I got up close. I thought it was fitting for a holiday that causes so much excess trash!

Life

Tied up with a bow.

Just a few more presents to wrap up and then I’m all done with my Christmas list! I found super cute wrapping paper at Target so the presents looks delicious underneath my tree. Almost too pretty to unwrap… almost.

 
 
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