Let's Wrap it Up: Unique & Creative Ways to Wrap Your Presents

Let's wrap up the Christmas season with some unique and creative wrapping ideas.  Christmas is just 2 days away and hopefully your shopping is DONE almost done  and you are enjoying the last days of the Holiday season!   

Now it's time to

{WRAP} 

Be creative.  And have fun!

via Real Simple 

Place the bottle along one side of the fabric so that the bottle's top meets the top of the fabric. Fold the excess material at the bottom over the bottle, forming a pocket of sorts. Then roll the dish towel evenly and secure at the neck with ribbon.

Add an ornament on non-traditional Christmas paper

Add a beautiful feather on your box ~ Love this beautiful peacock style

 Don your present with a simple ribbon or 2 or 3

 No time to shop for wrapping paper?  

Use what you have in your home ~ craft paper, lunch or grocery bags, newspaper.  

What a cute way for your child to show-off his/her artwork!

Do you have someone on your list that has been Naughty Nice list year?

Check out these printable gift tags at Smitten Blog Designs ~ print, cut, & add a ribbon.

Special Delivery Tags (direct from Santa) from Smitten Blog Designs.

How are you wrapping your gifts this year?  I would love to hear your ideas!

Images Courtesy of Martha Stewart, Real Simple

Drive-by Salvage + Railing Re-do + Repurposing your old Christmas Cards = Busy Week!

So you must be getting a little tired of ALL the Christmas postings lately...only a week left and I'll be redirecting my efforts to New Year, New You!  For some reason, everything I do (decorating included) is never complete/done/finito...it's always a continuous process.  We started decorating for the Holidays the weekend after Thanksgiving (which you've seen from many of my posts), but I'm never quite done.  Just this week, I've been working on some more Christmas projects to round out the week in preparation for guests this weekend!

The other day, my hubby came home with this treasure ~

Well it actually started out like this...

and became this...

To many = a piece of junk, To others (like me) = a true GEM!

Hubby actually found this on the side of the road ready for the garbage pickup.  
Kind of a funny story ~ Someone was throwing it away (what a crime), along with two other snowflakes.  One was the same size, and the other was about 3' diameter (WOW).  Seconds before he stopped, another woman stopped as well and was at the front door asking if she could take them.  The woman then said to my husband, "I'm in a festive mood, you can have one."  How SWEET!  

So on a quiet (ya, right) afternoon last week, it was transformed....

 

 ...into this ~ VOILA!

 It hangs in the front window (for all to see), 

amongst other snowflakes that I hung using fishing line (LUV finishing line!!!)

 {Make them YOURSELF}

         

 Using a template similar to these along with a jig saw, you can easily create a snowflake ornament (like mine) of any size. 

Another project that I just completed...our staircase railing.  I was back and forth on what to do (and didn't want to spend a penny), so I used what I had...

Using spruce sprigs from my yard, along with leftover Christmas ornaments and garland, 

I finally decorated the railing!

Now to just make sure the kids don't try to pull it down... 

Lastly, what do you do with last years Christmas Cards??  Use them for this year's present tags!  The mom of my best friend, Nicole, shared this idea with me years ago and I've been doing it ever since.  Every year you get LOTS of cards, and you don't want to throw them away.  SO......

Cut them up, write a message, add a ribbon, and share them with your gift recipients this year!

Just linked up to Met Monday at BNOTP

Entertaining for the Holidays!

The tree is up....the decorating is complete...and now it's time to PAR-TAY!
  

Are you opening your home this weekend and entertaining for the Holidays?  Whether you are throwing a party for 10 or 100 (or anywhere in between), entertain with style!  Provide your guests with VIP treatment and pay attention to detail.  But most of all, a great host is one that is relaxed and enjoys themselves throughout the party....everything else will naturally flow. 

{WELCOME}

 Decorate the exterior just as you do your interior.

Set the mood even BEFORE your guests ENTER! 

{GREET YOUR GUESTS}

When hosting a party, it's easy to get carried away with making sure everything is perfect, and forget to actually talk to your guests.  When guests arrive, personally greet them at the door to thank them for coming...take their coat and offer a beverage.  It sounds so easy and so matter-of-fact, but it's often forgotten.  Your guests want to know that you appreciate them being there!

Display food and drinks in a central location that can be easily accessed.  
Nothing's worse than having all the food layed out in a cramped space and your guests are trying to climb over each other for a napkin!

Entertaining Decor Tips

• Replace your bulky coffee table with multiple, moveable smaller tables. 
• Use trays to display food on your counter and table.  This allows you to keep these surfaces clear and to move / rearrange easily. 
• Add flowers and natural colors, amongst your Holiday decor.
• Don't forget the powder room (everyone will visit at least once).  Add soaps, perfume, and plenty of toilet paper.

{PERSONALIZE}

Everyone loves to see their name and to feel important.   
If you're having a sit down dinner, use placecards on the table or if a 
cocktail party is your style, have a personalized treat for your guests as they depart.

{TASTY TREATS}

 If you're not throwing a full-out dinner party, simple cocktail finger foods that can be easily eaten in one bite are perfect!  Choose foods that are finger and fork friendly.

{COCKTAILS}

Instead of having an open bar where you could be stuck making mixed drinks the whole evening, offer one or two Christmas Cocktails to choose from.

{Simply ENJOY}

Lastly...Don't forget to mingle and ENJOY YOURSELF!

Leave the dishes till the morning.

Images courtesy of House and Home, Martha Stewart

Repurposing your Extra Ornaments

Do you have extra ornaments left over that just didn't fit onto the Christmas tree this year?  Here are some ideas on how to repurpose your ornaments, so they don't get left behind (or remain unused in the box)...

Ornaments don't only have to be for the Christmas tree.  I love how this staircase banister is decked out with different ornaments hung at varying heights.  By simply using clear fishing line, loop it around the ornament hook & attach the other end to the banister.  Then finish off the rail with beautiful greenery!

Add some color to your mantel! 

Using a foam wreath, secure the ball ornaments with hot glue.  Use the largest ornaments on the inside and outside of the circle, then fill in the remaining areas with other size ball ornaments.  VOILA...BEAUTY!   (Hint: A 24" wreath takes about 150 ball ornaments and the final dimension is about 35" diameter)

 Incorporate ball ornaments into your Holiday dinner table.   

* Use them as part of your centerpiece 

* Introduce them on your dining chairs 

* Add them to your napkin rings 

* Include them on your place cards

 Ornaments can truly be used anywhere to create a stunning arrangement.  

All of the pictures showcase different color, different size, and different arranged ornaments, but all are a beautiful composition and would be eye-catching in any interior!

These looks can be created with things you already have laying around the house!  

Using ribbon, floral wire, greenery, ornaments (of course), and  

{your imagination}, a beautiful garland swag can be created!

For a quick change to your chandelier...add some ornaments using pretty ribbon.  

To take it a step further, weave greenery through the chandelier.

Using varying sized ornaments in a chocolate gold hue, I created this centerpiece for my dining room table for the Holidays. Learn More...

How have you used ball ornaments other than on your Christmas Tree?  I hope I've given you some inspiring ideas on how and where to use your extra ornaments.  

Happy Holidays!

Images courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

 

 

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