Festive Flowers

Okay, I have one more gift post and then I'm done...I promise.  Then it's possible you may not hear from me until after the hOLidaYs.  I need to enjoy some of it! 

So, I still needed a little something for the teachers, something nice yet festive, just a sweet little treat...cause they do work so hard and totally deserve it!  So I came up with these FeStiVe fLoWers.

I found the cute boxes at Target (dollar spot, again!) which fit Pepperidge packaged cookies perfectly!

So I stuffed a few with those and added a HoLLy FloWer pin.

For another twist I did a few in BLuE ...

These I filled with truffles (cause EVERY teacher deserves a little chocolate!) and added a 'Have a SwEeT Christmas' tag.

And finally, for the Moms...

My mom has asked for a few of these probably a million times but I've never gotten around to making any for her...sorry Mom! So she (and my mom in-law) is getting a whole slue of them for Christmas.

I'm not adding tutorials because, well, I really don't have the time (maybe another time)...but if you look you can find them EVERYWHERE online.  Or even better, make up a few of your own.  The possibilities are endless with these things.  So go on, get festive with your flowers!

Stuff It! {Neighbor Gift}

If you're running short on time and still need those neighbor gifts...here's a quick and easy one.  Just StuFf iT!

Step 1: Pick up a cute stocking where ever stockings are sold (pretty much anywhere this time of year, found mine at Target).

Step 2: Gather up some festive goodies.

Step 3: Stuff it.

Step 4: Hand them out to neighbors, friends, teachers...Wish them a Merry Christmas! Hope your Christmas is stuffed full of good things!

Step 5: Check that one off your list!

Just Add Snow {Neighbor Gift}

So I'm sure by now you've taken care of the family gifts (if not, it's go time people!) but have you thought about the neighbors yet?  We're already into our second week of December (can you believe it?) and there isn't much time left. 

I've been busy the last few working on my neighbors gifts...if you get started NOW you may have time to whip up a few of your own!

I found this idea last year a little too late but cataloged it as a definite tO dO...LOVED IT.  I thought it was a great alternative to the standard old plate of cookies...and something you can use over and over, year after year.

the SnOWmAn Kit... 

just add snow.

First step: whip up a few hats.  I used this tutorial to make them.  I was seriously scared of screwing these up...but they actually turned out pretty easy and quick to make up...so I made 20!

Next step: the scarfs.  Rather than going to the fabric store and buying a yard of fleece for $7.00 a pop (the cheapest I ever found it), I headed to Old Navy and bought 2 fleece blankets for $4.50 each (Black Friday sale...but I went after the crazies had left).  I cut them into 6 inch strips and voila...9 scarfs per blanket.  And they already had the fringe cut!  Can't get easier than that.

Next to fancy up the hats a bit I added ribbon and made a few of these felt flowers to attach.

Then I wrapped them up.  I cut a circle of cardboard for the bottom of the hat and stuffed them with a little tissue paper...got them ready for delivery.

Boxed up all of the BiTs aNd piECes.

The BiTs include: A feLt CarrOt Nose stuffed and glued to a chopstick...I'm feeling pretty smart about this one!  I had a million Pei Wei chopsticks just sitting in my drawer unused.  They turned out to be just the right size and they're already pointed at the end.  I originally was going to use dowels and sand the ends to a point...but the chopsticks are free if you like Chinese food! 

*A side note...I did try to go get a few more at Panda, but they weren't as good quality.  I didn't end up using them because I thought they might break easily when jamming them into the snow.

And for the other bits, 2 BiG GoOgiLy Eyes, 3 BiG buttOns, and 5 black rocks (for the mouth)...the decorative kind you find in the flower dept.  I got mine at the $ store...they were nice and BiG, too!

I packaged them up individually.  Then put them all in a box for safe keeping.

And last, a tag... 

just in case somebody didn't get it. 

Sometimes you have to spell these things out.

It feels good to have that one checked off my list...

Now if we can just get our snow back!  What good is a Snowman Kit with no snow?!

Dear Santa {Printable}

Am I the only one who loves having a little blackmail to hold over my kids head this time of year?  This is me the entire month of December, "Santa's watching you!"  Or, "Santa knows if you've been naughty."  And of course, "He knows when you are sleeping!"  The countdown starts tomorrow (officially).  Its time to get those letters out.  Need a free printable letter for Dear Old Santa?  Check this one out!

The GifT giVinG

Not a lot of time to chat.  Christmas almost here.  A bit of what I've been doing.  The gifts I've been giving.  Hope you're all enjoying the season of gift giving. 

the Neighbor Gifts

Started with this...

Crushed these...

Melted this...

Rolled it around...

Came up with these...

Found some of these...

And these (thank you dollar spot!)...

Searched the world over for some of this...

Printed some of these...

Wrapped it all up...

Delivered it all out.

In hopes that all would...

Activity Day GirL's Gifts

A little hoLLy pin.

Teacher (and whatever extra) Gifts

A FrOstY tReat (they're candybars)

Edited to add:  These are also fun to do with Whoppers and Milk Duds...these will actually stand up on their own.







Merry Christmas to all, to all...good night.

Santa's HeLper

A few months ago I got an email from the big man himself...that's right, Santa the Claus. {S}He ;) was curious about some custom capes for a couple of little giRLs that have topped the gOod list this year and asked if I would consider being Santa's heLper.  Of course I was flattered (as I always am) and  happily obLiged.  Really, who am I to turn down Old St. Nick!  Here's a peek, suPeR giRLy caPes...

Sure hope Santa likes them.